Mariners' Logan Evans undergoes Tommy John surgery, set to miss 2026 campaign

Seattle Mariners hopes to build off the success of last season's near World Series appearance have been dealt an early blow with right-hander Logan Evans ruled out for the entire 2026 season following the Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. General manager Justin Hollander confirmed on January 30 that the 24-year-old Evans underwent the surgery on January 23 and is looking at a long rehabilitation process, expected to take about 12 months away from the start of spring training. However, this potentially takes Seattle Mariners’ one of the most promising young pitchers out of the game before spring training even starts. Through the 2025 season, Evans had emerged as one of the most promising young arms in the Mariners organization when he made his big league debut and quickly made a place for himself in the rotation.Drafted in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, after also pitching for Penn State in college, Evans made his way to the majors less than two years later. He made his debut on April 27th against the Miami Marlins and played in 16 games, including 15 starts, and finished with a 6-5 record and a 4.32 ERA in 81 1⁄3 innings. The right-hander struck out 59 batters while issuing 31 walks and began the year as one of the Mariners top pitching prospects. His performances helped stabilize a young Seattle rotation as the club pushed deep into the postseason race, ending up one win short of its first-ever World Series appearance. With Evans now sidelined for the upcoming campaign, the Mariners would have to revise their plans for the remainder of their pitching division heading into spring training. Moreover, it may even rely on veterans or other prospects to fill the space created by the injury.Tommy John surgery generally puts pitchers out for at least a year, and the Mariners are likely to take their time with rehabilitation for Evans to avoid any complications that could cause a less-than-full recovery. The organisation hasn't yet put a detailed timetable on what will happen aside from the projected 12-month absence, though the hope will be for the right-hander to be back sometime during the 2027 season.On the other hand, Seattle’s front office now faces new hurdles as it seeks to build off the near-miss last year and sustain its status as a contender in Major League Baseball. Losing a cost-controlled young starter for a whole season is a setback to be sure, but the franchise has depth in the system, and now it’s time to look at alternatives before Opening Day. As for Evans, the surgery on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL), surgery aka Tommy John surgery, will help stabilise the arm injured during throwing and focus on recovery and rehabilitation following what had been shaping up as a pivotal stage in his nascent career.