Tyler Beede has a UCL sprain

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Beede has a sprain in his UCL, the team announced on Wednesday. An MRI concluded the sprain in his right UCL, as well as a flexor strain.

The team is currently looking at second opinions, but this initial news is, quite frankly, very bad. Sprained UCLs often lead to Tommy John surgery, which would cost Beede the entirety of the 2020 season, at the very least.

However, they don’t always lead to Tommy John surgery, so there is reason to maintain optimism until further medical reports come through.

Beede exited Tuesday’s game due to soreness in his elbow. The hope was that the Giants were simply being precautionary in a meaningless game, but unfortunately that didn’t prove to be the case.

The 26-year old right-hander was having a strong spring (1 hit, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 0 runs allowed in 3.0 innings), and spoke openly about how the new coaching staff was helping him better utilize his full array of pitches. He was considered a favorite to begin the season in the starting rotation.

This type of injury news is a blow to the team, but it’s a much larger blow to Beede, who surely felt like he was turning a corner in his career, and ready for a break through.

We’ll keep you updated as more information arrives.

UPDATE: Beede’s ligament is mostly intact, and he’s not anticipating needing surgery.