Guardians’ Ben Lively to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

DETROIT — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, ending his 2025 season. The surgery, expected to take place in the coming days, will require Lively to miss 12 to 16 months of play.

Lively, who initially hoped to work through forearm discomfort, felt pain during a game in Washington, D.C., on May 6 and again on May 12 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He described the experience as “the craziest mental game of all time” as he struggled to concentrate amid the pain.

In his last three starts in May, Lively impressed with a strong performance, allowing only one run in 14 innings. Despite feeling unwell, Lively stated, “They were basically like, ‘OK, stop, Mr. Tough Guy.’” However, after his outing against Milwaukee, he was placed on the injured list.

After a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, a well-known surgeon, Lively was diagnosed with a right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury and damage to the flexor tendon. The Guardians’ medical staff recommended surgery to repair both injuries.

Since signing a league-minimum deal with the Guardians in December 2023, Lively proved to be a consistent performer, boasting a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts. He had stepped up significantly due to multiple injuries within the pitching staff.

Before joining the Guardians, Lively played for several teams, including the Phillies, Reds, Royals, and Diamondbacks, as well as spending time in South Korea. He entered Cleveland with a career ERA of 5.05, but has lowered it to 3.68 over his two seasons.

<p“That's the worst part about it,” Lively said. “That's why I just wanted to keep running back onto the field, even though it was (painful).”

After Lively’s exit, Slade Cecconi, acquired from the Diamondbacks, will take his place in the rotation. The Guardians are also set to welcome back ace Shane Bieber in about six weeks as he recovers from his own Tommy John surgery.

The Guardians currently rank fourth in Major League Baseball in team ERA for the month of May.