LOS ANGELES — Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo will miss the rest of the season as he recovers from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery on his non-throwing elbow. Baltimore announced Wednesday the procedure, performed by Dr. Keith Meister, was successful. But Mateo will still be out for an extended period.
The Orioles and Mateo had hoped to avoid surgery after the 29-year-old dislocated his elbow last month when he and shortstop Gunnar Henderson collided behind second base. Initial X-rays were negative, which showed there wasn’t a broken bone, but ligament damage limited his range of motion. Mateo said last week he hadn’t begun baseball activities and that surgery was an option.
The surgery was a left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair.
“He’s a big loss, just like Westy [infielder Jordan Westburg] is a big loss, also,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Just what we lose: speed factor, defense, the stolen base threat. Really everything that he does bring. When he’s going well, he’s tough to get out. And, if you don’t get him out, he’s going to score, just with the threat he is on the bases.”
Mateo shifted to second base this season with Henderson taking over full-time duties at shortstop. The adjustment had been successful, with Mateo’s range proving valuable on the right side of the infield. He also brought blazing speed on the bases.
Mateo hit .229 with a .668 on-base-plus-slugging percentage this season. He could’ve been a key figure in the postseason as a pinch runner or defensive replacement.
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It remains to be seen whether he’ll be fully healed by spring training, although Hyde said he hopes Mateo is available to return by the regular season next year. Mateo will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2025.
Mateo is one of several injured Orioles missing the rest of the season, joining right-handers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells and left-hander John Means. Westburg is recovering from a fractured hand, and Ryan Mountcastle has a sprained left wrist. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad remains on the concussion injured list.
Kjerstad is “ramping up” baseball activities, Hyde said. A timeline for his return is murky, though.
Without Mateo and Westburg, Jackson Holliday has handled the bulk of duties at second base. Holliday, one of the top prospects in baseball, has adapted well to the position despite being another natural shortstop. The 20-year-old is hitting .175, an average weighed down by a difficult beginning to his career.
Hyde said the injuries have taken a toll.
“We haven’t picked up very well for guys who’ve gotten hurt, and we need to this last stretch,” Hyde said. “It’s been a tough couple months. Injuries have played a part in that, but injuries are happening around the league, also. We need to do a better job of picking up for guys who’re hurt.”
