Back on June 28, 2023, then-Detroit Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery.
He had to be removed from a start two days before that date with elbow discomfort.
He went under the knife, diligently got through his rehab, showcased his progress in front of multiple teams in early June this year, and eventually signed with the Cleveland Guardians later that month.
The Guardians knew that he wasn’t quite ready, but he would be in a few weeks.
They waited and gave him a platform to build arm strength and stamina: their minor leagues.
Now, Boyd has officially completed his rehab and will make his season debut for the Guards on Tuesday.
“Matthew Boyd will make his Guards debut tomorrow,” Guardians insider Mandy Bell tweeted.
Matthew Boyd will make his Guards debut tomorrow.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) August 12, 2024
The 33-year-old left-hander has posted a rock-solid 0.83 ERA, a 0.65 WHIP, and a 27/2 K/BB ratio over 21.2 innings in his five starts, scattered between the Arizona Complex League, Double-A, and Triple-A.
His stuff looks good and his arm is healthy for the first time in months.
Of course, MLB hitters will prove to be more of a challenge than those in the minor leagues, but the Guardians need answers in their starting rotation and are willing to roll the dice on a talented pitcher like Boyd.
He pitched six strong frames in his last outing last week, allowing no runs or walks and just one hit.
He struck out seven hitters.
The floor is not particularly high with Boyd, but he has the ceiling to contribute as a mid-rotation starter and the risk is almost zero.
It’s a worthy gamble for one of the savviest organizations in MLB.
NEXT: Stats Show How Guardians Shorten Games With Elite Late-Inning Pitching
