Houston Astros Get Terrible News on Starting Pitcher Luis Garcia

Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia left his start early on Monday with an apparent arm injury. Now, the team announced that he is out for the rest of the season and will undergo Tommy John surgery.

The defending world champion Houston Astros got devastating news on Friday regarding starting pitcher Luis Garcia.

Garcia, who left his start early on Monday with an apparent arm injury, will miss the rest of the season and will undergo Tommy John surgery.

The team released a statement on social media which said the following:

Astros RHP Luis Garcia is scheduled to undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) on his right elbow, General Manager Dana Brown announced today. A date for the surgery has not been set.

Garcia left his last start on May 1 in the first inning after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow. He will be out for the remainder of the 2023 season, but is expected to return at some point during the 2024 season.

Garcia, 26, posted a 2-2 record in six starts this season with a 4.00 ERA (12ER/27IP) with 10 walks and 31 strikeouts. Prior to his start on May 1, he registered back-to-back scoreless outings, hurling 7.0 shutout innings on April 19 vs. Toronto and 6.0 scoreless innings on April 25 at Tampa Bay, earning wins in each start.

For his career, Garcia is 28-19 in 69 appearances (63 starts) with a 3.61 ERA (141 ER/352IP). In 2022, he finished tied for fourth in the American League in wins, going 15-8 in 28 starts with a 3.72 ERA. His postseason highlight came in Game 3 of the ALDS when he hurled 5.0 shutout innings to earn the win in the Astros memorable, 18-inning, 1-0, series-clinching victory in Seattle. In 2021, Garcia was 11-8 in 30 appearances (28 starts) with a 3.48 ERA, finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. His postseason highlight that season came in the ALCS when he earned the pennant-clinching win in the 5-0, Game 6 victory over the Red Sox. Garcia allowed just one hit over 5.2 scoreless innings in that start.

Update on Luis Garcia. pic.twitter.com/e3hTqzjXn8

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 6, 2023

In addition to his work with the Astros, Garcia also played for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. The Venezuelan team made it to the quarterfinal round, where they were beaten by Team USA. The Classic ended with Team Japan beating Team USA in an epic final. It was the third title in five tournaments for Japan.

This is the second piece of bad news that the Astros have gotten on its pitching staff this week. Starting pitcher Jose Urquidy left his start on Sunday early with an arm injury and is also now on the injured list.

Garcia is not the only American League West pitcher to need Tommy John surgery. Just this week, we learned that Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray also underwent the surgery.

The Astros and Mariners play each other tonight at 10:10 p.m. ET.

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