The Nationals transferred Waldichuk (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Richard Lovelady. Waldichuk is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, though he will receive a second opinion before a final decision is made.
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Nationals' Ken Waldichuk: Could be headed for elbow surgery
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Waldichuk, who was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier Monday, is set to receive a second medical opinion on his left forearm injury after a doctor recommended him for Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.
Waldichuk previously underwent the procedure in May 2024, resulting in him missing that entire season before he returned to action in the minors last June. The southpaw struggled at the Triple-A level in 2025 but was able to make enough of an impression in spring training to secure a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day bullpen, only to go down with the forearm injury during his appearance in Sunday's win over the Brewers. Given the lengthy recovery timeline for Tommy John surgery along with the murky track record of pitchers who have had the procedure twice, Waldichuk is likely eager to avoid another operation and hoping that treating the injury with rest and rehab is a feasible option. Regardless of what treatment plan he ultimately chooses, Waldichuk appears to be headed for an extended absence.
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Nationals' Ken Waldichuk: Hits shelf with forearm tightness
Rotowire
The Nationals placed Waldichuk on the 15-day injured list Monday due to left forearm tightness.
Waldichuk was pulled early from his relief appearance in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Brewers after skipping a pitch to Milwaukee's Brice Turang and immediately motioning for team trainers to check him out. While the Nationals have determined that Waldichuk is tending to a forearm injury, he'll likely be sent in for further imaging as Washington looks to determine its severity. The southpaw previously underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024, and even if Waldichuk doesn't require another forearm operation this time around, the Nationals are likely to proceed conservatively with his recovery program.
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Nationals' Ken Waldichuk: Exits with apparent arm injury
Rotowire
Waldichuk was removed in the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Brewers after suffering an apparent forearm/elbow injury, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports. He was charged with an earned run on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings of relief.
Waldichuk entered the game in place of starter Zack Littell in the bottom of the sixth inning, working around a base hit to deliver a clean frame. He came back for the seventh and retired the first two batters he faced, only to exit the game midway through his matchup with Brice Turang after skipping a pitch. Waldichuk was seen pointing toward his upper forearm when a trainer came to visit him on the mound, though the Nationals have yet to provide a diagnosis for his injury. The southpaw previously underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow in May 2024.
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Rays' Ken Waldichuk: Booted from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Waldichuk was designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waldichuk will lose out on his 40-man roster spot to make room for the addition of Ben Williamson, who was acquired earlier Monday from Seattle. Waldichuk spent the majority of his 2025 season at Triple-A, posting an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 51.0 innings (15 starts).
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Rays' Ken Waldichuk: Dealt to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays acquired Waldichuk and Brett Wisely from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Waldichuk had been a waiver claim of Atlanta last week and he's now on the move again. The left-hander struggled in his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, posting an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings at the Triple-A level. However, Waldichuk boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors, so the Rays felt he was worth a flyer. Waldichuk has minor-league options remaining and is likely to begin the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Durham.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Athletics designated Waldichuk for assignment Monday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Jeff McNeil (shoulder), who was acquired via trade. Waldichuk missed all of 2024 and the first half of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he posted an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings this past season at Triple-A Las Vegas. The lefty will turn 28 in January and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2023, but with a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors and team control through 2029, he could draw interest via trade or waivers.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Staying with Athletics
Rotowire
Waldichuk and the Athletics avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Friday.
Waldichuk spent the first half of the 2025 regular season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in May of 2024. He was activated from the 60-day IL in mid-July and spent the rest of the year in the minors with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he posted a 2-6 record across 16 games (15 starts) with an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings. Waldichuk last saw major-league action in 2023 with the Athletics, and he'll look to impress the team enough during spring training to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster for 2026.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics activated Waldichuk (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery last May and had spent all season on the injured list up to this point. He kicked off a minor-league rehab assignment in late June and tallied a 7.63 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 17:16 K:BB over 15.1 innings spanning six appearances between Single-A Stockton and Las Vegas. The lefty threw 141 frames for the Athletics in 2023 and could certainly make his way back to the big club in due time, but he'll likely first need to harness his control issues in the minors before getting a look in the MLB rotation.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Reaches third inning in rehab start
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) gave up two runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks while striking out one batter over 2.1 innings in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Las Vegas.
After tossing three shutout innings in his first rehab outing with Single-A Stockton on June 22, Waldichuk moved up to Triple-A for his second appearance. Though he wasn't nearly as efficient Saturday as he had been in his previous outing, Waldichuk pushed up his pitch count from 42 to 51. The Athletics appear prepared to let Waldichuk get stretched out for a starting role during his rehab assignment, but his performance will likely determine whether he enters the big-league rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Waldichuk has been on the shelf all season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Set for another rehab start
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while hitting a batter and striking out four in a rehab start with Single-A Stockton on Sunday. He will now shift his minor-league rehab assignment to Las Vegas as he reaches the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which took place in May 2024. Waldichuk last pitched with the Athletics in 2023, posting a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 132 strikeouts over 141 innings in 35 appearances, including 22 starts.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Throws live BP session
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a live batting practice session at the Athletics' spring training complex Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk's throwing session consisted entirely of fastballs and changeups, so he'll still need to throw breaking pitches against hitters before the Athletics clear him for a rehab assignment. The southpaw is bouncing back from May 2024 Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until July.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2024, Waldichuk isn't expected to rejoin the Athletics until closer to midseason. The 27-year-old southpaw began throwing bullpen sessions in early March, but it will take a while for him to build to a starter's workload, if that's the role the A's have planned for him.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Cleared for bullpen progression
Rotowire
The Athletics announced Tuesday that Waldichuk (elbow) has been cleared to begin a bullpen progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
A little under 10 months removed from the Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure he underwent May 15, 2024, Waldichuk is now ready to resume mound work. Per Gallegos, the Athletics estimated that Waldichuk would require around 13 months of recovery time from surgery, so he could be ready to contribute for the big club at some point in late June or July. Presumably, the Athletics' initial plan is to have Waldichuk get stretched out as a starter during his rehab program, though he could be deployed as a reliever if the team is satisfied with its rotation options by the time he's ready to return from the injured list.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk was initially diagnosed with a UCL tear last October. He opted for a minor procedure on his elbow last fall in hopes of avoiding the surgery he eventually had Wednesday. The left-hander figures to be sidelined until around midseason of 2025.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Another good bullpen Friday
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) threw between 20 and 25 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, the Associated Press reports.
It's the second bullpen session for Waldichuk this week, as the left-hander continues a deliberate throwing program. Waldichuk could be deemed ready to face live hitters after Friday's session, although how he recovers over the weekend from the activity will likely be the determining factor in whether he progresses to the next step.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Encouraging bullpen Monday
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday that went off without any setbacks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
Manager Mark Kotsay remarked that "so far everything is going in the right direction for Kenny," adding the left-hander continues to feel good during his ramp-up process. While Waldichuk continues without a timetable for return, he may only need another bullpen session or two before progressing to facing live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Opens season on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Likely to miss start of season
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) likely won't be ready for the start of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk underwent surgery in October to repair the damage done to his left UCL and flexor during his final start of 2023. Athletics general manager David Forst didn't offer a timeline for Waldichuk's return during Friday's call with reporters, so it remains unclear when the 26-year-old southpaw will be able to return to Oakland's rotation. Last year, Waldichuk put up a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 141 innings -- his highest workload in a season since he was drafted in 2019.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Turns in quality start
Rotowire
Waldichuk (4-8) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Friday.
Waldichuk has two quality starts over four outings in September, and he also pitched six no-hit innings as a bulk reliever versus the Astros on Sept. 11. He's found some consistency with strong performances this month, lowering his ERA for the year to 5.29 with a 1.54 WHIP and 129:68 K:BB through 136 innings over 34 outings (21 starts). Waldichuk is likely set for one more appearance this season, which is tentatively scheduled to come on the road in Minnesota.
