Padres' Dinelson Lamet ends start after 29 pitches with forearm tightness

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet was ultimately shut down last fall after Sept. 25 due to a right biceps issue but was able to avoid a surgery that could've kept him out for all of 2021 and then returned to the mound last month for spring training sessions. Understandably, the Padres wanted to be cautious planning for his regular-season debut that was delayed until Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Things went well, at first, but then ended via what could prove to be a heartbreaking setback. 

As AJ Cassavell of the league's official website explained, Lamet left Wednesday's outing after just 29 pitches because of what is initially being described as right forearm tightness. 

Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the 28-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 but was a National League Cy Young Award candidate last year when he posted a 3-1 record with a 2.09 ERA. He and the club chose platelet-rich plasma therapy combined with rest over Tommy John this past offseason, and the hope was that he had dodged yet another lengthy absence up through Wednesday afternoon. 

While it's far too early to tell what's next for Lamet, the words "forearm tightness" suggest his latest comeback may be short-lived.