Alex Cobb, an All-Star in 2023, will likely miss the start of the 2024 season.
Per the Giants, Cobb is scheduled to undergo left hip surgery in Vail, Colorado on Tuesday. The timetable for his return to pitching is approximately six months, the team said.
Opening Day is March 28 — roughly five months after Cobb’s surgery. Without a spring training to ramp up, Cobb’s return to the mound could be delayed into May or June.
The 36-year-old starter had been dealing with hip issues for months, and they ultimately ended his season early. He still finished with a 3.87 ERA on the season. At his best, he defied the typical aging curve for a starting pitcher. He pitched in his first All-Star game and came one out away from his first no-hitter.
Cobb began his offseason by rehabbing and trying to treat his labrum and impingement issues, but a second opinion recommended surgery, the team said.
Even with the surgery, it would be surprising if the Giants didn’t pick up his $10 million club option for 2024; they hold a $2 million buyout.
Cobb’s injury only increases the Giants need for a top-end starter to pair Logan Webb with. San Francisco is expected to pursue Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the top free agent starter — Blake Snell — most recently pitched for new Giants manager Bob Melvin.