Another day, another gut punch for the South Side. These hits? Not the kind we’re hoping for.
Righthander Mike Vasil is out for the year. Tommy John is coming up, and with it, another shovel of dirt on a pitching staff already running on fumes.
Vasil had been quietly stacking a case as a depth guy with a little juice, and possibly even a shot in the starting five, but now it’s the long, lonely road of UCL rehab. Forget this season, and — if the stars align, maybe he’s back mid to late 2027.
For the Sox, this one hurts. Vasil was a lottery ticket with a pulse, the sort you need to cash in during a rebuild. And now? That ticket’s on ice for 12-18 months.
Short term: another stress test for a system that, while it finally has some depth, the pitching side isn’t quite as hearty. Long term: just another reminder that the TJS comes for you sooner or later. One day you’re rolling, the next day you’re booking an OR.
No happy spin here. Just months of rehab, crossed fingers, and the hope that Vasil doesn’t lose what little momentum he had when he returns.