Earlier this week it was announced that Mitchell Verburg would address the media before this weekend’s home contest against USC. The forthcoming news did not seem like a good sign and Beaver Nation’s worst fears were confirmed today.
Oregon State pitcher Mitchell Verburg just talked to us and has had surgery in his right elbow and is done for the season. He expects to be back and ready to go by the start of the season.
— Steve Gress (@stevegress19) May 24, 2019
Oregon State’s pitching depth has taken a few major hits this season. The last player to address the media in this manner was when Kevin Abel announced that he would be having Tommy John surgery. It’ll be at least a year before we see Abel or Verburg back on the mound. The Beavers also lost Jordan Britton to a season-ending injury.
Verburg, a right-handed sophomore, has a 1.40 ERA in 16 appearances this season. His 5.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the best on the team. Also batters are hitting just .165 against Verburg.
Verburg did not undergo full Tommy John surgery, only having an operation to repair his UCL. In reports to the media he has said he’ll be ready to go for the start of next season.
Mitchell Verburg suffered this injury against Washington State a few weeks ago and he meet with specialists in Corvallis and in Dallas before coming to his decision to get surgery. Verburg also battled injuries last season due to a back injury.
Beaver fans are also waiting to hear an update Brandon Eisert. He was removed from the starting rotation a couple of weeks ago (along with Grant Gambrell). Gambrell has returned to the starting lineup, but Eisert was not named a starter for this weekend matchup with USC. Instead Bryce Fehmel, Dylan Pearce and Grant Gambrell will be the starters.