Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards said Thursday he has elected to undergo Tommy John surgery for his damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the season.
Reduced to 28 starts over the last three seasons because of multiple injuries, including two UCL issues, Richards’ time with the Angels could effectively be finished after eight seasons and a 45-38 record with a 3.54 ERA. The free-agent-to-be expects to be ready to pitch at the start of the 2020 season.
Richards, 30, was 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA over 16 starts this season. He was removed in the third inning Tuesday during his outing against the Seattle Mariners. He went on the disabled list Wednesday and was given the choice of a conservative rehabilitation or surgery.
"I'm very disappointed for him," Angels general manager Billy Eppler told Guardado. "Disappointed for the rest of the players in that locker room too that have wanted to see him be our ace, which he's shown at times but hasn't been able to show as much as he's wanted to and as much as we would take. I feel bad for him. I went and sat with him for a few innings last night just to be somebody there to talk to him. But yeah, this is a cross to bear. I know Garrett. I know Garrett's outlook, and I know the drive within him, so he'll get through it."
Richards will be a free agent after the season.
This is just the latest blow to a Los Angeles squad that has been decimated by injuries, especially the pitching staff. As Guardado notes, Richards is the sixth Angels pitcher to suffer a UCL injury this season, joining JC Ramirez, Blake Wood, Keynan Middleton, Shohei Ohtani and John Lamb. Ohtani is the only one who has not required Tommy John surgery (at least not yet), but he is limited to just hitting for the time being.
