Colorado Rockies Reliever Jeff Criswell Set to Undergo Tommy John Surgery, Miss 2025

Right-handed relief pitcher Jeff Criswell is slated to undergo Tommy John surgery, the Colorado Rockies announced Sunday.

The surgery will knock Criswell out for the entire 2025 season, costing the club a potential key bullpen arm. The blow comes just one week ahead of Criswell's 26th birthday.

Criswell's procedure is scheduled for March 14 with Dr. Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers' team physician for the past 22 years and one of the most prominent elbow surgeons in baseball.

The right-hander made his MLB debut in 2024, going 1-0 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.475 WHIP, 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.6 WAR across 13 appearances.

Criswell got his start with the Oakland Athletics, going in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. The University of Michigan product got dealt to the Rockies in December 2022 in exchange for reliever Chad Smith.

Colorado reportedly placed veteran reliever Justin Lawrence on waivers on Saturday, suggesting that Criswell and the club's other young relievers could get more looks in 2025. The front office may be more willing to pay Lawrence's $965K salary now that Criswell is out of the picture, but since the move was irrevocable, they will just have to wait and see if anyone claims him.