San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Beede, an Auburn, Mass., native, went under the knife for Tommy John surgery in Texas on March 20, prompting some scrutiny and criticism at a time when most elective procedures were being postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister, based out of Arlington, Texas, performed Beede's surgery. While Meister's private office was not being used to treat patients dealing with coronavirus symptoms, the surgery came at a time when the U.S. Surgeon General discouraged such surgeries across the country. On March 13, a recommendation came from the American College of Surgeons: Minimize, postpone, or cancel all elective surgery amid the spread of coronavirus.
Beede, a Lawrence Academy (Mass.) alumnus, is not the only big-leaguer to have sports-related surgery in the last few weeks. The Red Sox announced yesterday that left-hander Chris Sale had Tommy John surgery. Houston's Justin Verlander underwent groin surgery in mid-March. Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery last week.
On Tuesday, March 31, Beede joined New England Baseball Journal for an exclusive interview.