Giants Reliever Jose Butto Undergoes Arm Surgery

Procedure expected to sideline the 28-year-old for 5-6 months.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:38pm by

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of orange, black, and white.A cubist interpretation of a Giants pitcher's delivery captures the fragmented, high-intensity nature of modern relief pitching.San Francisco Today

San Francisco Giants veteran relief pitcher Jose Butto underwent surgery on Friday to repair an axillary artery in his upper right arm. The procedure, performed by Dr. Jason Lee at Stanford Medical Center, is expected to keep Butto out for 5-6 months.

Why it matters

Butto has been a key part of the Giants' bullpen over the past several seasons, so his extended absence will be a significant blow to the team's pitching depth as they look to contend in the NL West.

The details

The 28-year-old Butto had been on the injured list for more than two weeks after allowing 5 runs in 2 innings across 3 appearances to start the 2026 season.

  • Butto underwent surgery on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • He is expected to be out for 5-6 months following the procedure.

The players

Jose Butto

A 28-year-old veteran relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Dr. Jason Lee

The surgeon who performed Butto's arm surgery at Stanford Medical Center.

San Francisco Giants

The Major League Baseball team that Butto plays for, based in San Francisco, California.

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What’s next

The Giants will have to rely on other relievers to fill Butto's role in the bullpen during his extended recovery period.

The takeaway

Butto's injury is a significant setback for the Giants as they look to compete in the NL West this season, underscoring the importance of pitching depth in a long MLB campaign.