Rich Hill offers insight into what's ahead for Lucas Giolito, says internal brace 'definitely saved my career'

Lucas Giolito’s 2024 season was over before it started, but his outlook beyond this campaign seems promising.

The veteran starter, who joined the Red Sox in the offseason on a two-year deal with an opt out after this season, will miss 2024 with a UCL injury. Giolito managed to avoid Tommy John surgery, and instead got an internal brace procedure performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas.

The internal brace is becoming increasingly popular, in part because the rehab time gets cut down significantly compared to an operation like Tommy John. Because of that, Giolito should have a relatively normal offseason, which should position him to return strong for spring training next year.

Veteran pitcher Rich Hill got the internal brace done in 2019, and by his recollection was the first big league pitcher to do so. He told Rob Bradford on Audacy’s Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast what’s ahead for Giolito.

“The rehab part of it, it’s very similar to Tommy John in the beginning, then you take off like a rocket after that,” Hill said. “The first eight weeks or so are very similar to what Tommy John is like in the rehab process. But once you start playing catch, the progression is accelerated. I was off of a mound in four months, four and a half months. … It definitely saved my career and gave me another life in baseball.

“It ended up being, in total, I think it was right around six and a half months, seven months. It was about seven months when I got back into major league games. … Fully ready to go, and you wouldn’t talk to somebody and say hey, in six months you should be pitching in major league games after Tommy John, you’re just dipping your toe in the throwing program (at that point).”

Giolito had Tommy John once already in his career, which was in 2012 shortly after he signed with the Nationals following the draft. Otherwise, he historically has been durable.