Atlanta Braves starter Ian Anderson has had a rough time in 2022 and 2023.
Once one of the most promising arms in the league, he broke through with a 1.95 ERA in 32.1 innings in 2020, the pandemic season.
He followed that up with a 3.58 ERA in 2021, the year in which the Braves won the World Series.
Everything went downhill since then.
With a 5.00 ERA in 2022, he started losing ground in the Braves’ battle for rotation spots in 2023.
He started this season in Triple-A and two Sundays ago, he lasted just two-thirds of an inning and gave up four earned runs in his start for Gwinnett.
He suffered an elbow injury in that outing, and the diagnosis has been announced on Tuesday: elbow ligament damage and Tommy John surgery for the young right-hander.
Crushing news for him and bad news for the Braves.
The world of baseball, as you would expect, reacted to the news.
Tommy John surgery for Ian Anderson. Sheesh. It’s crazy how much he’s been going downhill, since 2021 smh. #Braves
— Yuriy Andriyashchuk 🇺🇦 (@YuriyATL) April 11, 2023
terrible news about ian anderson needing tommy john. wishing him well and back by mid to late 2024 #forthea
— the silverback (@theblack_caesar) April 11, 2023
Most Braves fans are wishing him a smooth recovery.
They want to see him return to his best version.
Just came across news that Ian Anderson has been lost for the season to Tommy John surgery….hope he comes back healthy with a better mindset as well to get back to the Ian from 2020 and 2021!
— Rayfeal Hamilton Braves (6-4) Hawks 41-40 (@DatDudeRay80) April 11, 2023
Perhaps the surgery gives him a fresh start and he can return to that performance level with a good rehab.
The Braves have good depth to navigate through the 2023 and 2024 seasons without him, because they mostly did for stretches in 2022 and to open the current campaign.
Having surgery and recovering for up to 16 months is something that no pitcher wants to hear, but this could be an opportunity for Anderson to rewind, see what went wrong in the last couple of years, and come back stronger than ever.
NEXT:
Braves Lose Key Starter To Tommy John Surgery
