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  "path": "/white-sox/2026/03/17/white-sox-mike-vasil-to-undergo-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-17T18:15:57.323Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox bullpen took a major hit after the team announced that right-hander Mike Vasil would be undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.</p><p>“I think for me, and all these years of being able to pitch healthy and throwing a lot of innings, it’s just something that happens in today’s game,” Vasil said Monday. “Sometimes you can’t avoid it.”</p><p>He will have surgery performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on April 2. Vasil said he woke up Sunday morning and realized the injury was more serious than he had imagined. He said the tests revealed that the injury was likely unavoidable due to wear and tear over time. Logging many injuries incurs a debt that eventually comes due.</p><p>“I’m going to do everything in my power to make it as speedy [recovery as possible] and also take the precautionary measures so that I’m back and ready,” Vasil said.</p><p>The injury is a blow to the bullpen and clubhouse. Vasil is a connector whose boisterous personality permeates throughout the locker room. Manager Will Venable said multiple players came up to him, imploring that Vasil remain with the team because of his positive personality.</p><p>\"I had guys coming up to me [saying], ‘Gotta keep Vas around.,'\" Venable said. \"As soon as we heard that [surgery] was going to be the case with him, we all agreed that was the best thing for everybody.\"</p><p>On the mound, he was one of their more dependable arms, able to handle a multitude of roles and rack up innings — he was one of five Sox pitchers to throw at least 100 innings. Vasil also posted a 2.50 ERA last season and served as an opener, closer and multi-inning reliever for the club.</p><p>Without Vasil, the Sox will have to replace his ability to eat innings and serve in that multi-inning role. The injury can open the door for one of the Rule 5 draft selections — Jedixson Paez or Alexander Alberto — to make the team out of camp.</p><p>It's unlikely that Alberto gets that spot after a spotty spring in which he struggled with command and posted a 10.80 ERA. Paez, 22, doesn't have overwhelming stuff but succeeds by using multiple pitches and living in the strike zone. He hasn't pitched above the Single-A level, so being a multi-inning reliever could be beneficial as he acclimates to the majors.</p><p>Vasil's injury also opens the door for left-hander Chris Murphy, who entered camp with a shot at being in the rotation before settling into a bullpen role. He's stretched out and could provide bulk innings for the team. Left-hander Sean Newcomb started his career as a starter with the Braves, and was stretched out this spring, so he could also serve in that swingman role.</p><p>\"Everyone has to step up,\" Venable said. \"We’ll have Vas around. He’ll be around doing his rehab with us, which is great for us and is very important for our group and for him. [Vasil] was really kind of a Swiss Army knife for us and we’re gonna have to have guys step up in the bullpen.\"</p><p>The team is going to miss Vasil, but he’s also going to miss them. He said he’s never had a season where he couldn’t play baseball, so the isolation of rehab “is going to be difficult.” With his surgery already scheduled, Vasil has his eyes set on his return date.</p><p>“In my mind, April 2, 2027,” Vasil said of his target return date. “When I look at my career, I’m not by any means towards the end of it.”<br></p>",
  "title": "White Sox' Mike Vasil to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-17T20:10:25.276Z"
}