Phillies Player To Have 2nd Surgery of the Season

The Philadelphia Phillies have lost an important defensive presence in their outfield for a while as Cristian Pache will have to undergo a rare elbow surgery. 

Cristian Pache is having surgery tomorrow to remove an old screw that is now protruding from his right elbow. The Phillies expect him to return this season but they are not sure when.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 16, 2023

Pache has an old screw from another surgery in his elbow that had started to "protrude" from his elbow. Ouch. He'll be having the screw removed. 

He is expected to return this season, but will certainly be out for a few weeks. Pache also missed over six weeks earlier in the season due to knee surgery at the beginning of May. 

The 24-year-old is a former top 20 prospect in baseball, but got off to a rough start to his career with the Atlanta Braves and Oakland A's, registering an OPS+ in the 20s over his first 330 plate appearances in 2021 and 2022. 

Pache is making up for it this season in Philly—in between surgeries—batting .327 with a .957 OPS, though in only 53 plate appearances. He's also playing his expected stellar defense in center (and left) field. 

Photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports