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Orioles starter Zach Eflin’s heartbreaking revelation after injury that required Tommy John surgery
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- Orioles starter Zach Eflin’s heartbreaking revelation after injury that required Tommy John surgery
Orioles starter Zach Eflin's heartbreaking revelation after injury that required Tommy John surgery appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Re-signed to a one-year deal over the offseason , the Baltimore Orioles were counting on Zach Eflin to be a crucial piece of their rotation in 2026. However, a serious elbow injury has taken those plans off the table.
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Eflin has now underwent Tommy John surgery and will be eyeing a return in 2027. While his season is now officially over, the right-hander was bracing for the worst when his injury occurred, via the Associated Press.
"I'm in a lot better spot than I was a week, a week and a half ago," Eflin said Sunday. "I knew something happened on the field. Really felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was going through so much this offseason to come back on time, and I honestly never felt better in my career before."
Eflin has been no stranger to injuries throughout his career. In 2021 he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon. Then in 2025, his season was ended after 14 starts due to a back injury. He may be no stranger to making injury returns, but Eflin and the Orioles are hoping his latest Tommy John Surgery finally ends his bad luck.
The right-hander pitched just 3.2 innings in 2025, allowing four hits and a run while striking out seven. It was an impressive return after his previous season was cut short. Still, Eflin has a mutual option for the 2027 season. The Orioles must evaluate all options when determining if they will bring him back.
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But if Eflin heals as expected during his rehab and is able to produce when on the mound again, perhaps he gets another chance in Baltimore post-injury.
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