Ken Waldichuk DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

MLB.com's Martin Gallegos reports that Athletics left-handed reliever Ken Waldichuk (elbow) has been cleared to start a bullpen progression in camp. Waldichuk is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure that he had in May of last year. If the 27-year-old southpaw can avoid any setbacks in his recovery from elbow reconstruction, there's a chance he could be available to rejoin the A's bullpen t the tail end of the first half of the 2025 season. The plan for the time being is to have Waldichuk stretched out as a starter, but the most likely scenario is that he'll make his debut this year as a reliever. A pitcher that already had questionable command and control could struggle in his return such a serious arm surgery, making him one to avoid in fantasy once he's back. Waldichuk has a 5.28 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, one save and a 165:81 K:BB in 175 2/3 innings in his two seasons in the majors.

Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Los Angeles with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Waldichuk will miss the rest of the 2024 season and probably won't be a candidate to return to games until around midseason in 2025. The 26-year-old southpaw was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow last October and underwent a minor surgery last year with hopes that he could avoid Tommy John surgery. That didn't end up being the case, so Waldichuk will be shut down for the foreseeable future. The former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's has recorded a 5.28 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 81 walks and 165 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings over 42 appearances (29 starts) in his two major-league seasons in Oakland.

Oakland Athletics left-hander Ken Waldichuk (elbow) had a setback after he faced hitters in a 25-pitch live batting practice session on April 29 and has not thrown since. Waldichuk will be re-evaluated in the next week and is shut down indefinitely. The 26-year-old southpaw opened the year on the 60-day injured list while recovering from a left-elbow sprain, but this recent setback is going to keep him out at least into June. He's merely a name to monitor in AL-only leagues while he works to get healthy. Waldichuk won't be a lock for the big-league rotation when he's finally healthy, either, after going 4-9 with a 5.36 ERA (5.30 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 71 walks and 132 K's in 141 innings over 35 outings (22 starts) last year. A relief role is probably his best path to work in the majors if he can eventually make it back before the All-Star break.