Image credit:
Ben Abeldt (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
TCU junior lefty Ben Abeldt is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday after suffering an elbow injury in the final week of preseason camp, multiple sources told Baseball America.
Abeldt was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Abeldt was set to join the Horned Frogs’ rotation this season after two excellent years in their bullpen, which saw him pitch to a 2.81 ERA with 10 saves, 125 strikeouts and just 40 walks over 99.1 innings.
Selected as BA’s Preseason Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, Abeldt served as TCU’s closer in 2024 and posted a sterling 1.83 ERA with eight saves, 54 strikeouts and 16 walks in 44.1 innings while holding opponents to a career-low 5.9 hits per nine innings.
The 6-foot-3 southpaw was ranked No. 116 in BA’s latest Top 200 prospects for the 2025 draft. He is the only player in college baseball to throw at least 40 innings with a sub-2.00 ERA last season and return to school in 2025. Abeldt was also one of just three Division I returnees who ranked in the 95th percentile or higher in OPS allowed, WHIP, FIP and SIERA.
The junior told TCU reporters last month that he worked to develop a changeup over the offseason to better handle a starting role.
“I feel like that’s going to be huge going into the spring, especially taking on a different role as a starter,” he said. “You’re going to need that third pitch and also, going into the season as a starter, we’re focusing more on really just limiting pitch count, almost throwing it down the middle and hoping they hit it. It’s going to be a lot of early in counts working ahead and using that changeup a lot.”
Replacement Options
Abeldt’s injury is a massive blow to a Horned Frogs squad that appeared well-positioned to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the field in 2024.
Former Wichita State righty Tommy LaPour, BA’s 15th-ranked transfer this offseason, and junior righty Caedmon Parker, who was selected by the Brewers in the 11th round of the 2024 draft but returned to school, figure to be the most likely candidates to front the Horned Frogs’ rotation with Abeldt out.
“We have a younger team this year but we bond really well, we’ve meshed,” Abeldt said in January. “I feel like this is a team that can be extremely successful this year.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
