DETROIT -- Ben Lively, a stable presence in the Guardians’ starting rotation the past two seasons, will undergo Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair, which is estimated to sideline him for 12 to 16 months.
No date has been set, but the 33-year-old’s surgery is expected in the coming days with Dr. Keith Meister.
“We feel horrible for Ben,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “This is a big hit for him and his career, and a big hit for us. Ben's meant the world to this team since I've been here. He's [brought] stability in the rotation for us. The teammate that he is, we're definitely going to miss him. It’s a tough day.”
Lively exited his start against the Brewers on May 12 after three innings due to right forearm inflammation, and he went on the 15-day IL the next day with a right flexor tendon strain.
The right-hander received an additional opinion from Meister on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Meister confirmed the presence of Lively’s flexor tendon injury, and he additionally noted medial elbow joint laxity due to an insufficient ulnar collateral ligament. Meister and the Guardians’ medical team believe that dynamic is placing added stress on Lively’s flexor muscles, hence the recommendation for surgery.
It’s tough news for the Guardians and Lively, who followed a winding career path before finding a home in Cleveland the past two seasons. He began his big league career with the Phillies (2017-18) before pitching for the Royals (‘18-19) and Reds (‘23). In between, he had a two-year stint in Korea with the KBO’s Samsung Lions.
Lively signed a one-year deal with Cleveland on Dec. 12, 2023, and he went on to record a 3.81 ERA in 151 innings over 29 starts in 2024, which was crucial production after Cleveland lost ace Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery in April.
In nine starts this season, Lively recorded a 3.22 ERA (which ranks first among Guardians starters) in 44 2/3 innings. Cleveland's rotation collectively entered Friday’s bout against the Tigers with a 4.05 ERA (19th in the Majors) and 251 1/3 innings pitched (23rd).
“I didn't know him [when we signed him],” Vogt said of Lively. “I talked to a few people about him, and everybody just gave rave reviews about the person and the competitor and things like that. But he’s definitely been one of my favorite people to get to know since I've been here.”
Lively felt the forearm issue during his start against the Nationals on May 6, when he allowed one run on two hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, but exited after just 63 pitches. The right-hander went through his normal between-starts progression leading up to his start against Milwaukee, when he threw three scoreless innings before departing ahead of the top of the fourth after tossing a few warmup pitches.
With the Lively news, the Guardians’ rotation picture in the immediate future includes Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz, Logan Allen and Slade Cecconi. Cecconi (who started Friday in Detroit) started in place of Lively on Saturday against the Reds, when he was charged with three runs on five hits in five innings while striking out eight.
Cleveland acquired Cecconi from Arizona in the Josh Naylor trade on Dec. 21. The right-hander has an opportunity in the rotation.
“He’s here now, right? It's his opportunity,” Vogt said of Cecconi. “We talked about it last year when we were going through this. It’s unfortunate that one of your guys gets hurt, but it creates opportunity for others. Slade threw the ball really well last time out. He's getting the ball again tonight.
“We're always looking for ways that we can win games, and Slade's definitely capable of helping us.”
Bieber is making positive steps in his Tommy John rehab, though he still has steps ahead of him. But he could return to game action in the coming weeks, likely beginning with an appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Joining a Minor League affiliate for a rehab assignment would figure to be Bieber's ensuing step.
Looking further into the summer, lefty John Means is another potential rotation option. Means, who signed a one-year deal on Feb. 19, has been rehabbing in Arizona from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June while he was with the Orioles.