Just over a month after falling victim to friendly fire, Orioles utilityman Jorge Mateo underwent successful, albeit season-ending, surgery on his left elbow on Wednesday. Mateo has been on the injured list since July 24th after a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson led to a gruesome elbow dislocation.
After being placed on the 10-day injured list (and later transferred to the 60-day), manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo’s elbow was too swollen to determine whether surgery — and a longer recovery timeline — was needed. Mateo met with doctors earlier this month, expecting to come up with a treatment plan. However, he was told there was still too much inflammation in his elbow.
The 29-year-old infielder said on Saturday that he would undergo more imaging “soon” to determine his options and was hopeful to return in 2024. But the Orioles announced on Wednesday that Mateo successfully underwent surgery on his left elbow earlier in the day. He underwent a left ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with an internal brace and flexor repair. The operation was done by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas. Mateo will miss the rest of the 2024 season.
Orioles Utilityman Jorge Mateo Out for Season After Elbow Surgery
Mateo was a key part of the Orioles infield this season, delivering Gold Glove caliber defense as Baltimore’s second baseman. Over 68 games this season, he hit .229/.267/.401 with five homers and 18 RBI while stealing 13 bases.
Jordan Westburg drew the bulk of the starts at the keystone when Mateo was sidelined with a concussion in June. But a week after Mateo’s injury, Westburg fractured his hand and is still in a cast. Jackson Holliday has since stepped up as Baltimore’s everyday second baseman in Mateo’s absence. Ramón Urías has taken over for Westburg at third.
Typically, the recovery time for an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is shorter for position players than for pitchers. Since he injured his non-throwing arm, Mateo may not need as much time before he can start building back up. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Mateo could potentially return in some capacity in early 2025.
Main Photo Credits: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
