Giants Pitcher Hayden Birdsong Suffers Arm Injury

MRI reveals Grade 2 forearm strain and UCL sprain, raising concerns about potential surgery and lengthy recovery time.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:08pm by Ben Kaplan

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San Francisco Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong suffered a serious arm injury, as an MRI revealed a Grade 2 forearm strain and a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Birdsong plans to seek a second opinion from a specialist before determining if rehabilitation or surgery will be required, with the latter potentially sidelining him for the entire 2026 season and part of 2027.

Why it matters

The injury is a significant blow to the Giants' pitching depth, as Birdsong was expected to provide valuable innings out of the bullpen or as a spot starter. His absence will put more pressure on the team's younger pitching options to step up and fill the void.

The details

Birdsong felt discomfort during a relief outing against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, describing the sensation as a 'pop' and 'rip' after throwing a curveball. Before the injury, his final spring appearance had shown improvement, with a scoreless inning and velocities reaching 99 mph. However, over three spring outings, he allowed eight runs while working to refine his command and introduce a new cutter.

  • Birdsong suffered the injury during a relief outing against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.
  • Birdsong plans to travel to Dallas to seek a second opinion from orthopedic specialist Keith Meister.

The players

Hayden Birdsong

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who suffered a Grade 2 forearm strain and UCL sprain.

Tony Vitello

The manager of the San Francisco Giants.

Keith Meister

An orthopedic specialist in Dallas who Birdsong plans to consult for a second opinion.

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What they’re saying

“It's certainly not best-case scenario, but hopefully we get best-case scenario of the unfortunate circumstances.”

— Tony Vitello, Manager (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

Birdsong will travel to Dallas to seek a second opinion from orthopedic specialist Keith Meister, who will help determine whether rehabilitation or surgery is required.

The takeaway

The Giants' pitching depth has taken a significant hit with Birdsong's injury, as the team will now need to rely more heavily on its younger pitching options to fill the void. The outcome of Birdsong's second opinion will be crucial in determining the timeline and impact of his recovery.