Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft had Tommy John surgery recently, which will likely cost him the entire 2022 season. The 21-year-old second round pick in the 2018 draft posted a photo on his Instagram today post-surgery and Jason Mackey from the Post-Gazette confirmed that he had TJ surgery.
RHP Braxton Ashcraft has had Tommy John surgery, source confirms. Ashcraft, the Pirates' No. 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline, posted a photo of himself post-surgery. Was 1-1 with a 5.35 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 12 walks in 10 starts for High-A Greensboro.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) August 3, 2021
Ashcraft was pitching for Greensboro this year, where he had a 5.35 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 38.2 innings, with 41 strikeouts. His last outing was on July 21st when he allowed five earned runs over four innings. He went three weeks between starts in June and then struggled in his last four outings after coming back with an 8.80 ERA. He was pitching great before that missed time (1.65 ERA and .161 BAA in May), but he gave up five runs over four innings in his June 2nd start, and then didn’t pitch again until June 25th. He came into the season as the #18 prospect in the system
