Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Ian Anderson needs Tommy John surgery

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated 4/11/23

Ian Anderson hasn’t been the same guy since the 2021 World Series. He was so bad with the Braves last season that he was eventually optioned to Gwinnett and never returned. There was hope that he could wipe that performance from his brain and return in much better form this season, but it appears there could have been something deeper holding him back.

Anderson was shut down last season with a shoulder injury, and after a lackluster start to 2023, he’s hit the IL with an elbow injury. That’s never what you want to hear as a pitcher, as Tommy John always seems to be a possibility anytime elbow soreness is mentioned, and Anderson’s situation is no different.

When talking about Soroka’s outing on Tuesday, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman suggested Anderson indeed may need Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL.

Soroka struck out two and had no trouble coming off the mound to make a play in the first. With Ian Anderson possibly needing TJ surgery, Soroka’s progress becomes even more important.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 11, 2023

A few minutes later, Jeff Passan of ESPN confirmed Anderson will undergo Tommy John surgery.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Ian Anderson will undergo Tommy John surgery, sources tell me and @kileymcd. After a difficult 2022 season, Anderson started the year at AAA and struggled in his first start before being diagnosed with a torn UCL. He's expected to return in 2024.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 11, 2023

This explains a lot of the problems Ian Anderson has faced recently, and hopefully, this surgery is something that allows him to continue his career in the future.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. Anderson was one of the most promising young arms in the league and a pivotal part to the Braves World Series run in 2021. Now, his future is as uncertain as ever. He will miss all of this season and most of next as well. It is hard imagining him ever pitching again for the Braves.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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