Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros recently underwent significant arm surgery, which involved repairing both his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and a flexor tendon. This internal brace technique aims to reinforce the UCL, potentially leading to faster recovery compared to conventional Tommy John surgery, which typically demands a 12-14 month hiatus. Blanco's elbow discomfort surfaced after a May 17 appearance against the Texas Rangers, prompting an MRI that revealed inflammation.

While there’s no specified recovery timeline from the Astros, it’s confirmed that Blanco will miss the remainder of the season. The 31-year-old had shown promise in 2024, recording a 2.80 ERA over 167.1 innings, but struggled in the early part of this season with a 4.10 ERA across his first nine starts. This surgery adds to the Astros' pitching woes, as they have already lost teammate Hayden Wesneski to a similar injury.