Diamondbacks lefthander Andrew Saalfrank underwent shoulder surgery on Monday, Feb. 9, a procedure that will cost him all of the 2026 season, general manager Mike Hazen said.
Saalfrank was expected to be a significant part of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen this year. In 28 games last season, he logged a 1.24 ERA in 29 innings.
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Saalfrank posted on Instagram about the surgery, which was performed by Dr. Keith Meister.
“Just another bump in the road of living my dream,” wrote Saalfrank, who missed all of the 2021 season following Tommy John surgery.
The Diamondbacks have just two other healthy left-handed relievers on their 40-man roster: Brandyn Garcia and Philip Abner. The team traded lefty Kyle Backhus to the Philadelphia Phillies to clear a roster spot in December.
Lefty A.J. Puk will open the season on the injured list as he recovers from elbow surgery from last year.
The specifics of Saalfrank’s shoulder procedure were not immediately available.
Saalfrank missed half of the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to a gambling suspension.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks reliever lost for year due to shoulder surgery