Mariners pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery: Placed on the 60-day Injured List

The Mariners have announced that pitcher Jackson Kowar has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to a tear in his right UCL. General manager Justin Hollander informed the press, including Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, that Kowar is scheduled for Tommy John surgery next week, which will keep him out of action until approximately the middle of the 2025 season. This move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Ryne Stanek, whose signing has now been confirmed.

This injury is a significant setback for Kowar, who was hoping for a fresh start in 2024. The Royals drafted Kowar 33rd overall in 2018, envisioning him as part of a group of young pitchers who would contribute to the team’s future success.

However, Kowar, like many of Kansas City’s pitchers, has struggled in the Major Leagues, posting a high 9.12 ERA over 74 innings in the past three seasons. He started his 2021 debut season with eight starts but has mainly served as a reliever since then. The transition to the bullpen boosted his fastball velocity, but he has still struggled as batters have taken advantage of his pitches. Control issues, with a 13.7 percent walk rate and a modest 20.1 percent strikeout rate, have further hindered Kowar’s performance.

In November, the Royals traded Kowar to the Braves for Kyle Wright, who was then sent to the Mariners as part of a trade that brought Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta. This move relieved some salary for Seattle at the expense of losing Kelenic, while also acquiring Kowar and Cole Phillips, a second-round pick from the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, Phillips was dealing with a Tommy John surgery recovery and subsequently required a second procedure, and now Kowar faces the same surgery.

Recent reports suggested a potential arm injury for Kowar, adding to the Mariners’ list of reliever injuries that needed attention this spring. Gregory Santos has been managing soreness in his teres major area but has resumed bullpen sessions, and Matt Brash is progressing from throwing catch to distances of 90 feet after dealing with elbow inflammation. Brash has been cleared to resume throwing after initially fearing a more severe injury.

Given these health issues, the Mariners decided to invest $4 million in Stanek to strengthen their relief pitching staff amid the various challenges they are facing