Pirates left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales is set to undergo surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his left elbow, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The procedure is scheduled for early September and comes with an estimated recovery time of nine months to a year. Meanwhile, right-hander Hunter Stratton has already had knee surgery to address a ruptured patellar tendon he recently sustained. Stratton is expected to need between seven to ten months to return to pitching in the major leagues.
Marco Gonzales was acquired by the Pirates from the Braves this offseason, with Pittsburgh taking on $3 million of his $12 million salary. Atlanta had inherited Gonzales’ contract as part of the trade to acquire Jarred Kelenic from the Mariners. Gonzales, who made only seven starts for the Pirates, initially performed well, posting a 2.70 ERA in his first five starts. However, he struggled in his final two appearances, allowing nine runs on 15 hits and five walks over seven innings.
The Pirates hold a 2025 team option on Gonzales, but it’s priced at $15 million with no buyout, making it likely they will decline it given his recent injuries and extensive recovery time. Consequently, Gonzales is expected to become a free agent and may sign a minor league deal.
Injuries have limited Gonzales to just 17 starts and 83 2/3 innings over the past two seasons. Prior to this, he was a reliable fixture in the Mariners’ rotation. Acquired from the Cardinals for Tyler O’Neill, Gonzales made a strong impression in Seattle, starting 131 games from 2018 to 2022 with a 3.94 ERA and a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio.
On the other hand, Stratton’s injury is not likely to end his tenure with the Pirates. The 27-year-old, who has just over a year of big league service time, is under team control for five more seasons. His strong performance in 2024 suggests he could have a future role with the team if he recovers fully from his knee injury.
Since his MLB debut last year, Stratton has pitched 49 2/3 innings for the Pirates with a 3.26 ERA, a 21% strikeout rate, a 4.9% walk rate, and a 41% ground-ball rate. His 95.6 mph average fastball velocity and a 12.6% swinging-strike rate indicate potential for further development in his strikeout abilities. If Stratton returns on the shorter end of his recovery timeline, he could be ready to pitch near the end of spring training, though a summer return remains a possibility if the recovery takes longer.