Red Sox' Lucas Giolito focused on 'tackling' his rehab and getting back for next season
Lucas Giolito underwent successful surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday. Following the procedure, Giolito would learn that he did not need Tommy John surgery, but instead had an internal brace, which will mean shorter rehab and recovery for the starter.
“Full Tommy John would have been a much longer recovery time,” said Giolito to reporters with his right arm in a sling. “Things went as planned. Based on what I was told by the doctor and the training staff here, once he got in there, everything looked really good. They just had to do the brace, a little repair. So, I’m looking forward to tackling this rehab and then being back for a full season next year.”
If Giolito had traditional Tommy John surgery, he could have been out until the 2025 All-Star break. With the brace surgery, Giolito could be ready for Opening Day next season.
“I think it might be a little bit too early to know exactly,” said Giolito, “but my goal is to have a full season next year without any sort of restrictions. That’s how it’s looking, based on how successful the surgery was. As long as the rehab goes well, I should be in spring training, preparing like a regular season. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Despite having a plan in place for his post-surgery recovery, it hasn’t stopped Giolito from feeling remorse and disappointment on missing the 2024 season with the Red Sox.
“I’d say the biggest mental hurdle is that feeling of letting people down,” he said. “I signed here to throw a lot of innings for this club and it’s very unfortunate that I experienced this injury. I came into camp and everything was really clean. I felt really good, everything looked really good. It was just one of those things. I guess the TJ only lasted for so long.”
This is the second Tommy John surgery that Giolito has undergone in his career with his first coming in 2012 as a minor leaguer.
“I’m in a different position in my career now,” he said. “When I got Tommy John, I was like 18, 19 years old. I didn’t even know what a career in baseball was. I was just getting started. I was kind hoping I would be able to come back strong and be able to start my career. Whereas now, I’m established. I know what it takes to be successful at the big league level.
“Being healthy is a big (factor). So I’m looking forward to getting healthy again.”
Giolito will earn $18 million this season as he recovers from the surgery, it’s a fully guaranteed deal and the team did not have insurance on the contract, per WEEI’s Rob Bradford. It’s virtually a guarantee that the right-handed hurler will exercise his player option of $19 million for 2025 versus testing free agency coming off the surgery.
If Giolito throws fewer than 140 innings in 2025, the Red Sox will receive a $14 million club option (or $1.5 million buyout) for 2026. If he reaches that 140-inning bench mark, the option will become a $19 million mutual option.
