A rapidly rising Boston Red Sox prospect reportedly suffered a significant setback.
Beyond the Monster’s Josh Ball reported that Yordanny Monegro will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL. Based on the procedure’s typical recovery timeline, the 22-year-old will miss the rest of the 2025 season and likely a significant part of 2026.
MLB.com ranked Monegro as Boston’s No. 22 prospect, but the right-handed hurler was making a strong case to climb that leaderboard. Monegro registered a 2.67 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and eight walks in 33 2/3 innings for Double-A Portland this season.
Portland manager Chad Epperson lamented the terrible timing of Monegro’s injury.
“This young man, and the work he was putting in, I think he finally figured that out,” Epperson said. “The weight room, the nutrition, everything that he was going and buying into, he finally figured out that part of it, and to have this go and happen to him really sucks because you were starting to see results.”
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Boston signed Monegro for $35,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2020. He’s since notched a 3.22 ERA over his minor-league career, but Monegro was sporting his lowest walk rate at his highest level of competition before the UCL tear.
On May 20, Monegro collected 10 strikeouts in five scoreless innings. His next scheduled start was pushed back due to elbow inflammation, and he exited last Friday’s outing against the New York Yankees’ Somerset affiliate during the second inning.
The Red Sox left Monegro off last offseason’s 40-man roster, giving other teams the chance to poach him in the Rule 5 Draft. They may face a similar predicament this winter as the 6-foot-4, 180-pounder embarks on a lengthy road to recovery.
Featured image via Eric Canha/Imagn Images
