Fri May 23 20:10:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Guardians’ Ben Lively to Undergo Tommy John Surgery, Out Indefinitely**

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Guardians received a major blow to their pitching rotation today as right-hander Ben Lively is set to undergo Tommy John surgery and a flexor tendon repair. The announcement, made by the team on Thursday, means Lively is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season and potentially all of 2026.

Lively, 33, was initially placed on the 15-day injured list after experiencing forearm pain during a recent start. A second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister confirmed the need for surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow.

“Dr. Meister confirmed the presence of a flexor tendon injury while also noting medial elbow joint laxity due to an insufficient ulnar collateral ligament,” the Guardians stated. “Both team physicians and Dr. Meister believe the joint laxity is placing added stress on the flexor muscles and have recommended UCL reconstruction along with flexor tendon repair.”

The loss of Lively is a significant setback for Cleveland. After being named the unexpected Opening Day starter due to Tanner Bibee’s illness, Lively emerged as the team’s most consistent pitcher with a 3.22 ERA in nine starts this season. He had been a valuable addition since signing with the Guardians in the 2023-24 offseason, posting a 3.68 ERA in nearly 200 innings.

With Lively sidelined, Slade Cecconi, recently acquired from the Diamondbacks, has been activated from the injured list to fill the void. Cecconi joins Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz and Logan Allen in the rotation. The Guardians are hoping Shane Bieber and John Means can return from their own UCL surgeries later in the season to bolster the pitching staff.

Lively’s future with the Guardians is now uncertain. He is currently playing on a $2.25 million contract and would be eligible for arbitration again next year. The team will have to decide whether to offer him a contract in the $3 million range to spend most or all of next season rehabbing.

The Guardians’ starting rotation, already ranked 19th in ERA and strikeout rate, faces a challenging road ahead without Lively.

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