Zach Eflin's Tommy John Surgery Was Brutal, But He's Already Locked In on 2027

Less than a week after going under the knife on his 32nd birthday, Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin is already thinking about next season. The veteran pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday after a heartbreaking injury derailed what looked like a promising comeback attempt.

It happened fast. Eflin took the mound March 31 against the Texas Rangers in his season debut and pitched like the guy the Orioles thought they'd signed. Seven strikeouts, one run allowed through 3⅔ innings. Then came the fourth inning, and everything changed on a single pitch.

One Pitch Changed Everything

"It felt like a hamstring cramp in my elbow. Literally out of nowhere," Eflin said Sunday. "I'd never felt anything in elbow before." That up-and-away heater or cutter? It was all it took. "Really felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest," he said, reflecting on the moment.

The timing made it worse. Eflin spent the entire offseason preparing for this moment, convinced he was in the best shape of his career. His two spring training starts had been dominant. Seven and one-third scoreless innings. Everything checked out. Then one pitch undid it all.

The Road Back Starts Now

Last season was already brutal. Eflin went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA across 14 starts while hitting the injured list three times. Back trouble ended his year after a July 28 start. The Orioles answered by re-signing him to a one-year, $10 million deal in December that includes a $25 million mutual option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout. They needed him. He needed redemption.

Instead, he got surgery. But listen to how he's talking about it. "I'm in a lot better spot than I was a week, a week and a half ago," Eflin said Sunday. That mindset matters. An 11-year vet who is 68-67 with a 4.28 ERA knows how to handle adversity. He's planning to spend time around the Orioles all summer while rehabbing.

"I think that's why I got it done so early," he said about the surgery. "I want to be back as quickly as possible. I've been through too much in my life to let this affect me. I'm going to absolutely crush rehab and be back better than ever."

That's the sound of a guy who refuses to let one bad pitch define his story. 2027 is already on the calendar.

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