With Opening Day just around the corner, excitement is brewing for the San Francisco Giants. Yet, Thursday brought some tough news: right-handed pitcher Hayden Birdsong is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. This development comes just days before the Giants wrap up their Cactus League play.
Birdsong's need for surgery became more apparent after the team disclosed his UCL injury. Weighing the options between surgery and a lengthy rehab, Birdsong sought a second opinion from Dr.
Keith Meister. The verdict?
Surgery, which Meister will perform next week.
This is a significant setback for Birdsong, who was eager to bounce back after a challenging second half of 2025. His talent is undeniable, making this a tough pill to swallow for a Giants team counting on young pitchers to step up.
The rotation still includes promising arms like Trevor McDonald, Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell, and Carson Seymour. However, with Mason Black designated for assignment, Kai-Wei Teng traded, and now Birdsong sidelined, the depth is being tested.
On a positive note, Tommy John surgery isn't the career-ending procedure it once was. Many pitchers return to form, and Birdsong can find inspiration in teammates Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, who have both come back strong after similar surgeries.
The road to recovery will be long. Birdsong is expected to miss the entire 2026 season and possibly the start of 2027.
With his roster spot uncertain and the need for rehab games to regain form, we might not see Birdsong back in the Majors until 2028. But if history is any guide, there's every reason to believe he can return better than ever.