The Cincinnati Reds were right to be concerned about Carson Spiers, who is likely heading for surgery and will miss the rest of this season, and more.
The Cincinnati Reds were right to be concerned about Carson Spiers, who is heading for season-ending surgery that will limit him in 2026, too.
Reds manager Terry Francona said Spiers was "getting geared up" for elbow, or Tommy John, surgery. Francona said his understanding was it hadn't been determined if a full or partial reconstruction would be necessary. Either one would be considered a Tommy John procedure.
Dr. Keith Meister, a well-known expert in Tommy John surgery, is likely to perform it on Spiers, Francona said. A date for surgery wasn't set as of July 26.
"I feel bad for the kid," Francona said. "He must be some kind of a tough kid because he still says, 'I can pitch.' He's been saying that the whole damn time. I kind of told him yesterday, I said, 'I have a feeling your pain threshold might be a little higher than most' because he still swears he can pitch."
Spiers had been on the injured list since April 20 because of a shoulder impingement. He had built back up and begun a minor-league rehab assignment when he experienced a setback earlier this month.
The loss of Spiers limits the Reds' pitching depth as they prepare for the home stretch of the 2025 season in the middle of a playoff race.
As for other starting pitching considerations, Francona said Opening Day starter Hunter Greene had a successful side session on July 26. Greene was set to join the club's Triple-A Louisville affiliate in Omaha for game action.
Chase Petty has been fine-tuning himself with Louisville, too, after three big-league appearances earlier this season and nearly two weeks up with the Reds in the bullpen, during which time he did not enter a game. Louisville manager Pat Kelly told The Enquirer he was extremely proud of how Petty has handled his up-and-down season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Terry Francona: Reds pitcher Carson Spiers to receive Tommy John surgery
Category: Baseball
