Red Sox

Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito scheduled for elbow surgery on Tuesday

"We’ll know more when they go in. The type of surgery, we don’t know.”

Lucas Giolito was one of the most durable starters in MLB before this season. Barry Chin / The Boston Globe

March 11, 2024

The Red Sox’ top offseason signing is set to go under the knife.

After seeking a second opinion on the state of his partially torn UCL, Boston starter Lucas Giolito is scheduled for elbow surgery in Alabama on Tuesday, per The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.

According to Abraham, Giolito is “sure to miss all of the upcoming season and perhaps some of 2025.” It’s unclear how invasive Giolito’s procedure on Tuesday will be, which will determine the veteran’s total recovery timeline.

“We’ll know more when they go in,” manager Alex Cora said on Monday. “The type of surgery, we don’t know.”

Giolito tore his UCL during a spring training appearance against the Minnesota Twins on March 1. The 29-year-old righty might need to undergo Tommy John surgery or could be in line for the less-intensive internal brace procedure.

Tommy John could keep Giolito out through the start of the 2025 campaign. But even a brace procedure will sideline the starter for months before he could even resume throwing again.

Giolito traveled to Birmingham, Ala. on Monday to meet with Dr. Jeffery Dugas, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports injuries. Dugas’ assessment didn’t offer any good news for Boston, with Dugas set to perform the procedure on Tuesday.

The Red Sox signed Giolito to a two-year, $38.5 million contract in late December, with Giolito expected to serve as a dependable stalwart in Boston’s rotation in 2024.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2012, Giolito has been one of the more consistent pitchers in the big leagues, making 29 starts in each of the past six seasons.