BREAKING NEWS: Cardinals 30-years old key man undergo unexpected surgery and will miss the entire 2024 season.

Cardinals pitcher Keynan Middleton is set to undergo surgery to repair his flexor tendon, meaning he’ll be out for the entirety of the 2024 season. The news was reported by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Middleton, aged 30, joined the Cardinals this past offseason on a one-year contract worth $6 million. His current salary is $5 million, with a $1 million buyout option for the club in 2025.

The Cardinals had high hopes for Middleton to play a significant role in their bullpen after an impressive 2023 season, where he posted a 3.38 earned run average over 50 2/3 innings split between the White Sox and Yankees. Despite a slightly elevated walk rate of 10.8%, he struck out 30.2% of batters faced and induced ground balls on 56.6% of balls in play.

However, Middleton’s season took a turn when he was sidelined in March due to a forearm strain. Although he attempted a rehab assignment after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, he experienced renewed discomfort, leading to the decision for surgery.

Injuries have plagued Middleton throughout his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2018 and various stints on the injured list for strains and inflammation. While flexor tendon surgery typically has a shorter recovery timeline compared to other elbow surgeries, Middleton’s return for next season remains uncertain.

The Cardinals will likely transfer Middleton to the 60-day injured list to free up a roster spot and will decide on his future for 2025, considering the $5 million option. In the meantime, Ryan Helsley will handle closing duties, with JoJo Romero and Andrew Kittredge stepping up in setup roles. If the team remains competitive, they may seek bullpen reinforcements before the trade deadline.