Guardians get more awful injury report on playoff hero

The Cleveland Guardians will have to wait until well into the 2025 season for a return from their biggest postseason hero.

Cleveland said Monday that utilityman David Fry had serious surgery on his right elbow, which he had been experiencing trouble in since the latter part of the 2024 season. The treatment was performed to address a flexor strain as well as a “chronically insufficient” UCL in Fry’s right elbow, and he will now be out for a prolonged period.

According to the Guardians, Fry will require six to eight months to return as a designated hitter and almost a year to return as a position player.

That is a devastating loss for the 28-year-old Fry, who was an All-Star for Cleveland in 2024 and provided tremendous heroics during their recent ALCS run. Fry blasted a thrilling go-ahead pinch-hit homer for the Guardians as they faced elimination in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, followed by an unbelievable walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS.

However, the given timeframe indicates that Fry will not be able to DH for the Guardians until at least May or June of next year. Cleveland also has some things to work out in free agency, with numerous key players (including some of their major midseason signings) ready to hit the open market.