Orioles’ Zach Eflin aims for 2027 return after Tommy John surgery

BALTIMORE (AP) — Zach Eflin is looking forward to 2027, less than a week after having Tommy John surgery on his 32nd birthday.

He left his March 31 season debut after striking out seven and allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings against Texas. He had elbow reconstruction surgery Wednesday.

“I’m in a lot better spot than I was a week, a week and a half ago,” Eflin said Sunday. “I knew something happened on the field. Really felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was going through so much this offseason to come back on time and I honestly never felt better in my career before.”

Eflin was 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts while making three trips to the injured list last season. Back trouble ended his season after a July 28 start.

Baltimore re-signed Eflin to a $10 million, one-year deal in December that includes a $25 million mutual option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.

Baltimore hoped the 11-year veteran would be a steady rotation presence, and his 7 1/3 scoreless innings in two spring training starts offered promise.

“I had felt amazing for three games, and there in the fourth inning it took one pitch,” Eflin said. “It was an up-and-away heater or cutter and it just felt like a hamstring cramp in my elbow. Literally out of nowhere. I’d never felt anything in elbow before.”

Eflin, 68-67 with a 4.28 ERA in 201 big league appearances with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, hopes to spend as much time as possible around the Orioles this summer as he works to recover and make it back to the majors next year.

“I think that’s why I got it done so early,” Eflin said. “I want to be back as quickly as possible. I’ve been through too much in my life to let this affect me and let this be the thing that brings me down. I’m going to absolutely crush rehab and be back better than ever.”

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Also Sunday, the Orioles placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the seven-day concussion injured list retroactive to Thursday and recalled outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez from Triple-A Norfolk. O’Neill is hitting .241 with a homer and four RBIs in 10 games a year after injuries limited him to 54 games in his first season with Baltimore.

Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said after the 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants that O’Neill was ill for a week and fainted Thursday while dealing with dehydration.

“As he was getting worked on to play, he just felt dizzy,” Albernaz said. “We’re making sure he’s good to go.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb