Padres reliever Dan Altavilla has undergone Tommy John surgery, he announced on Twitter. That’ll obviously prevent him from pitching again in 2021, and he’s likely to miss most or all of the 2022 season given the procedure’s 12-16 month general recovery timetable.
Altavilla made two appearances this year before going on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. He was transferred to the 60-day IL in late May. Evidently, his attempts to rehab the injury without surgery proved unsuccessful.
The 28-year-old has pitched in the majors in each of the past six seasons. Altavilla broke in with the Mariners and went to San Diego before last summer’s trade deadline as part of the seven-player Austin Nola deal. In 116 MLB innings, the right-hander has worked to a 4.03 ERA/4.11 SIERA with an above-average 26.1% strikeout rate but an elevated 12.1% walk percentage.
Altavilla signed an $850K deal with the Friars to avoid arbitration over the winter. Since he barely pitched this year, he’d be in line for the same or marginally higher amount if tendered a contract for 2022. That’s hardly bank-breaking money, but it’s possible the Padres decide to non-tender Altavilla rather than devote a 40-man roster spot to him all winter. (Players have to be reinstated from the IL over the offseason). If San Diego does tender Altavilla a contract, he’d be controllable through 2023.
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