Top Lefty Reliever Undergoes Left Elbow Surgery

The San Diego Padres haven't gotten off to their ideal start, they sit five games under .500 and are fourth in the NL West. However, their bullpen has been quite the opposite, especially as of late. They're the best bullpen in the month of May, and it's not even close. This dominance in the pen comes without two of their top relieves, Robert Suarez and lefty Drew Pomeranz. 

Both are in the 60-day IL, but it's Pomeranz who is in serious jeopardy of missing the entire 2023 as we learned he had "cleanup surgery in his elbow," according to Friars skipper Bob Melvin. 

“Hopefully that clears out a hurdle for him to get back and get healthy,” Melvin said. “... I know his goal — and so is ours — is for him to pitch for us this year.”

There is no timetable for his return, and he hasn't pitched since 2021. In August 2021, he had surgery for a torn flexor tendon injury that caused him to miss the entire 2022 season, and earlier this year, San Diego put him from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. 

The former All-Star has been lights out for the Frairs, posting a 2.21 ERA with a 10-7 record, 174 strikeouts, and a 1.06 WHIP while only giving up 95 hits in 146.1 innings pitched and 64 games. 

It's been frustrating not to get to see Pomeranz out there on a consistent basis. He could really help out the team with his arm, experience, and add to the pen's dominance. 

Nonetheless, we hope to see him out on the mound soon, even if it's in a minimized role.