Diamondbacks Pitcher Andrew Saalfrank Out for 2026 Season After Shoulder Surgery

The 28-year-old left-hander was expected to be a key part of the team's bullpen.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 3:15pm

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that left-handed pitcher Andrew Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Saalfrank, 28, was coming off a strong 2025 campaign where he posted a 1.24 ERA over 28 appearances out of the bullpen. The team did not provide details on how Saalfrank sustained the injury that required the surgery.

Why it matters

Saalfrank's absence is a significant blow to the Diamondbacks' pitching staff, which was already dealing with injuries to other key arms like A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, and Corbin Burnes. Losing a reliable left-handed reliever like Saalfrank will force the team to shuffle its bullpen and rely more on inexperienced or unproven pitchers.

The details

The Diamondbacks announced on Monday that Saalfrank will undergo shoulder surgery and miss the entire 2026 season. The team did not provide specifics on how Saalfrank sustained the injury that required the operation. Saalfrank himself called the surgery a "tough pill to swallow" on social media, but expressed optimism about returning to the game he loves.

  • On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Diamondbacks confirmed that Saalfrank will miss the 2026 season after shoulder surgery.

The players

Andrew Saalfrank

A 28-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who was expected to be a key part of the team's bullpen in 2026 before undergoing shoulder surgery that will sideline him for the entire season.

Torey Lovullo

The manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks who will address Saalfrank's injury on Tuesday.

A.J. Puk

A Diamondbacks reliever who is recovering from elbow surgery and hopes to return during the summer.

Justin Martinez

A Diamondbacks reliever who is recovering from elbow surgery and hopes to return during the summer.

Corbin Burnes

The Diamondbacks' ace starting pitcher who is recovering from elbow surgery and hopes to return during the summer.

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What they’re saying

“The game of baseball can be a brutal one, but it's also given me some of the best moments of my life, and I don't expect that to change moving forward.”

— Andrew Saalfrank (Social media)

What’s next

The Diamondbacks will need to find a replacement for Saalfrank in their bullpen and hope that their other injured pitchers can return to full health later in the season.

The takeaway

Saalfrank's shoulder surgery is a significant setback for the Diamondbacks, who were counting on the left-hander to be a key part of their pitching staff in 2026. His absence, combined with the injuries to other key arms, will force the team to get creative with its bullpen and rotation as it tries to remain competitive in the NL West.