Overview
- The Giants announced the right-hander will have the operation next week in Dallas with Dr. Keith Meister.
- Birdsong reported a pop in his elbow during a March 10 Cactus League outing, and imaging showed a UCL sprain with a forearm/flexor-tendon strain that may also be addressed in the procedure.
- He will miss the entire 2026 season and is expected to be sidelined into early 2027, consistent with typical 12–16 month recovery timelines.
- The decision followed a second opinion after the club and player weighed surgery against a lengthy rehabilitation plan.
- Losing Birdsong further thins San Francisco’s pitching depth after recent moves involving Mason Black and Kai-Wei Teng, leaving prospects such as Trevor McDonald, Carson Whisenhunt, Blade Tidwell and Carson Seymour as next-up options.