Giants Pitcher Needs Surgery to Remove Blood Clot From Right Arm Mid-Season

San Francisco Giants right-hander Jose Butto is heading into the operating room to have a blood clot removed from his right arm, the team announced Thursday. The procedure comes after Butto landed on the injured list with arm fatigue, shutting down what was already a rough start to his season.

The Struggle Before the Surgery

Butto had been dealing with arm discomfort leading up to his three relief appearances this season, and the numbers told the story of a guy who wasn't right. In just two innings of work, he posted a brutal 22.50 ERA. That's the kind of stat line that screams something is physically wrong, not just a mechanical issue to shake off in the bullpen.

Over five seasons bouncing between the New York Mets and Giants, Butto has been a solid depth piece with a 13-10 record, four saves, and a respectable 3.76 ERA. But this year was different from day one. The arm discomfort wasn't something you could pitch through, and now he'll need surgery to fix it.

Giants Turn to Tidwell as Butto Recovers

With Butto heading to the operating table, San Francisco recalled right-hander Blade Tidwell from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the void. Tidwell made his season debut Thursday and immediately showed why the Giants had interest. He threw three scoreless innings in relief against the Mets and earned his first career save in the process.

Both Tidwell and Butto came to the Giants from the Mets last July, part of a package deal that also included outfielder Drew Gilbert in exchange for right-hander Tyler Rogers. The hope now is that Butto can get healthy down the line while Tidwell steps up in the short term.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.