Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, a significant development that will sideline him for an extended period. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas and included both a reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and a flexor tendon repair, two critical elements of the elbow vital for pitching.
Lively, who is 33 years old, will have a follow-up evaluation on Thursday, after which he will report to the Guardians’ spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona, to begin what will be a lengthy rehab process. Based on typical recovery timelines for this type of surgery, the right-hander is expected to miss between 12 to 18 months, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the current season and possibly a portion of the next.
The injury stems from a May 12 outing against the Milwaukee Brewers, where Lively had to leave the game early due to a strained flexor tendon in his pitching arm. He had managed to throw three shutout innings before signaling for assistance. It was later revealed that Lively had begun feeling discomfort after a start on May 6 against the Washington Nationals, although the issue did not recur until he attempted his warm-up pitches against Milwaukee. At that point, it became clear that the problem was more serious than initially thought.
Before landing on the injured list, Lively was having a solid season for Cleveland. In nine starts, he posted a 2-2 record with a 3.22 ERA, showcasing a level of consistency that helped stabilize the Guardians’ rotation. He had particularly strong performances in May, giving up just one run across 14 innings over three starts, reinforcing his role as a reliable option on the mound.
Lively’s absence now presents a significant challenge for the Guardians, who have leaned on their pitching depth to stay competitive in the American League. Losing a veteran starter like Lively—especially during a strong stretch—puts pressure on the club to find adequate replacements either internally or through future transactions.
As Lively begins the long road to recovery, the Guardians will hope that his surgery and rehabilitation go smoothly and that he can eventually return to form sometime in 2026.
