SAN FRANCISCO – Giants All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez has opted to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, manager Bob Melvin announced Saturday.
The 25-year-old pitcher was having a solid campaign in his second MLB season before the Giants placed him on the injured list earlier this week. Rodriguez had a 1.78 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings with four saves while helping anchor the back end of San Francisco’s bullpen.
“Randy is going to get the surgery,” Melvin said in the Giants’ dugout before Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oracle Park. “He’s just now deciding on who’s going to do it and what the [timetable] will be.”
Rodriguez had hoped to avoid surgery and was considering to treat the injury with rest and rehabilitation. After seeking multiple opinions, the recommendation from two doctors was for the pitcher to have the surgery.
The Giants had been using Rodriguez to close games after trading Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees at the deadline. Rodriguez had three saves in four opportunities but also suffered three losses in his new role.
Ryan Walker now will take over the closing duties for the Giants.
The news that Rodriguez will have elbow surgery confirms what most people in the organization already knew.
The main concern now is how long Rodriguez will miss. Tommy John surgery generally requires at least a year of rehab, although Melvin declined to say whether Rodriguez will miss all of the 2026 MLB season or not.
“I really don’t know,” Melvin said. “I think that depends on what happens in the surgery and what the doctor will have to say about what he saw.”
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