The Seattle Mariners have announced that starting pitcher Marco Gonzales will undergo season-ending forearm surgery. Gonzales, who has been a key part of the Mariners’ starting rotation since 2018, has been dealing with forearm discomfort for much of the season.
Gonzales had been trying to manage the discomfort with rest and rehab, but after consulting with team doctors, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles and is expected to keep Gonzales out of action for the remainder of the 2020 season.
The loss of Gonzales is a major blow to the Mariners’ pitching staff. He was one of the team’s most reliable starters, posting a 3.10 ERA in 2019 and a 3.90 ERA in 2020. He also had a strong strikeout rate, averaging 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 2019 and 8.4 in 2020.
Gonzales’ absence will leave a hole in the Mariners’ rotation, but the team is confident that they have the depth to fill it. The Mariners have several young arms that could step up in his absence, including Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn, and Yusei Kikuchi.
The Mariners are hoping that Gonzales will be able to make a full recovery and return to the mound in 2021. In the meantime, they will look to their young pitchers to help make up for his absence and keep the team in contention for a playoff spot.
