Guardians All-Star and postseason hero David Fry recently had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He is expected to need at least six months of rehab and recovery before he can hit again for the defending AL Central champions.
The team announced on Monday that Fry, who is an important utility player, had surgery on Wednesday in Dallas. Fry had been unable to catch or play in the field for the last few months of the season due to pain in his elbow.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister, who repaired Fry’s damaged ulnar collateral ligament using a method that includes a hybrid/internal brace and a tendon graft. The surgery also treated a strained flexor tendon.
The hybrid brace is thought to help speed up recovery compared to the traditional Tommy John surgery, which usually requires 12 to 15 months to recover.
The Guardians expect Fry will need about 6 to 8 months to be ready to return as their designated hitter. However, it could take up to a year for him to return to playing in the field.
Fry, 28, hit .263 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs this season. He believes he injured his elbow while throwing to second base during a game against Toronto in June.
Fry was a key performer in the playoffs. He hit a go-ahead homer in Game 4 against Detroit, helping the Guardians win the AL Division Series. In the ALCS, he hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the 10th inning to beat the New York Yankees in Game 3.
The Guardians also made several other roster moves. Outfielder Myles Straw accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus. Reliever James Karinchak was activated from the 60-day injured list, outrighted, and granted free agency.
The team also activated left-hander Sam Hentges and right-hander Trevor Stephan from the 60-day injured list.
