Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Waldichuk will miss the rest of the 2024 season and probably won't be a candidate to return to games until around midseason in 2025. The 26-year-old southpaw was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow last October and underwent a minor surgery last year with hopes that he could avoid Tommy John surgery. That didn't end up being the case, so Waldichuk will be shut down for the foreseeable future. The former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's has recorded a 5.28 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 81 walks and 165 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings over 42 appearances (29 starts) in his two major-league seasons in Oakland.
Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) had a setback after he faced hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on April 29 and has not thrown since. Waldichuk will be re-evaluated in the next week and is shut down indefinitely. The 26-year-old southpaw opened the year on the 60-day injured list while recovering from a left-elbow sprain, but this recent setback is going to keep him out at least into June. He's merely a name to monitor in AL-only leagues while he works to get healthy. Waldichuk won't be a lock for the big-league rotation when he's finally healthy, either, after going 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 K's in 141 innings over 35 outings (22 starts) last year. A relief role is probably his best path to work in the majors if he can eventually make it back before the All-Star break.
Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) faced live hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on Monday and will pitch in a simulated game and could go on a minor-league rehab assignment after that. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's could be a starting rotation option for the A's and fantasy managers in deeper leagues sooner than later. In his second big-league season in 2023, he went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 strikeouts in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). His 3.42 ERA in his final 10 outings last year gave fantasy managers some hope that he could be better this year, but a UCL sprain and flex strain have delayed his start to 2024. Waldichuk is a consideration in AL-only leagues once he's activated.
Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow), who was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, has been cleared to play catch in spring training and should be throwing off a mound soon. If all goes well, he'll begin throwing bullpen sessions near the end of camp, but he's not going to be ready for the start of the 2024 season due to a strained left elbow. The 26-year-old southpaw wasn't able to do anything for most of the offseason due to his injury after having surgery to fix a UCL sprain and damage to his flexor tendon. In his first full big-league season in 2023, Waldichuk struggled to a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with a save, 71 walks and 132 strikeouts in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). Although he turned things around later in the year, his 11.1 percent walk rate was concerning, and he'll be off the fantasy radar in mixed leagues for now.
Ken Waldichuk Unlikely To Be Ready For Start Of Season
Oakland Athletics general manager David Forst said that left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) likely will not be ready for the start of the 2024 season after having surgery to fix his left UCL and flexor tendon in October. There isn't a timeline for the 26-year-old to be back in Oakland's rotation. In his second major-league season with the A's, Waldichuk went 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP while walking 71 and striking out 132 in 141 innings over 35 appearances (22 starts). He started out terribly in 2023 before turning things around later in the year, although he still had problems with the long ball and finished with a concerning 4.5 BB/9. With health concerns to boot, Waldichuk can be ignored in most single-year fantasy formats this spring. The A's home park is a good one for pitchers, but that's about where the good news ends for Waldichuk's profile.
Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk will open Tuesday's game against Aaron Civale and the Cleveland Guardians, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. It was right-hander Luis Medina's turn in the rotation, but instead of starting, the 24-year-old will appear out of the bullpen. Both arms have been disastrous this season, as Waldichuk is running a 6.64 ERA and 19.2% strikeout rate across 59.2 innings, while Medina owns a 7.55 ERA and 21.0% strikeout rate over 39.1 innings. Fantasy managers should leave both on the waiver wire in all formats.
Ken Waldichuk Grabs First Save Of The Season Monday
Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk earned his first save of the campaign on Monday when his club defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3. It was a three-inning outing for the 25-year-old, and he allowed no runs on two hits and no walks while striking out five. Waldichuk's endured a tough season thus far, pitching to a 6.87 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, and 19.6% strikeout rate over 57.1 innings, and he moved to the bullpen after 10 starts. It's a positive outing for the former fifth-round pick, but until he can move back into the rotation, he doesn't offer much value as a long reliever.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk will make his first start of the 2023 season Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. He'll try to halt an Angels offense that scored 13 runs a day ago. Waldichuk had an ugly Spring Training, in which he allowed 16 runs over 13.2 innings while walking 12. The sophomore struggled in 2022 too, posting a 4.93 ERA, but his 22.6% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate, along with a 36% strikeout rate over his Minor League career, gave fantasy managers hope coming into the season. Fantasy managers can leave Waldichuk, the number two prospect in the club's system, on the waiver wire in shallow leagues. Although, the lefty's a good fit for those in deeper formats looking for strikeout potential.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk didn't fare much better in his second outing this spring than he did in his first. One of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game, Waldichuk allowed three hits, two runs, one walk and one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings on Sunday versus the San Diego Padres. The lefty has been off to a slow start thus far and in total has allowed five hits, five runs, four walks and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings. The lefty was the crown jewel as part of the Frankie Montas deal at last year's trade deadline and went 2-2 with a 4.93 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings in seven starts to close out the 2022 season. With his potential and Oakland in a clear youth movement, Waldichuk has a strong shot to make the Opening Day roster. Even if he doesn't break camp with the Athletics, the lefty is still likely to see plenty of big-league action in 2022. As one of the best swing and miss pitchers in the prospect department, the lefty deserves the attention of dynasty league managers. Pending he breaks camp with the Athletics, Waldichuk is worthy of a flier in redraft leagues for his high strikeout rates, but don't expect much in the win department.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk will be called up to make the start against the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed that the left-hander will be one of the team's September 1st callups. The A's acquired Waldichuk as part of the Frankie Montas deal from earlier in the season. The left-hander is posting a strong 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 137/36 K/BB ratio in 21 starts between two minor league levels this season. The assumption is that Waldichuk will stick in the rotation through the rest of the regular season. Regardless, he appears to be a favorable streaming option against the struggling Nats' lineup.
