San Francisco Giants reliever José Buttó is facing a long layoff after undergoing surgery this week to remove a blood clot from his right throwing arm. The club has placed him on the injured list and is bracing for him to miss roughly two to four months while doctors guide a careful recovery. Inside the clubhouse, players and coaches have stressed that the priority is Buttó's long-term health, not rushing him back into the bullpen.
The initial diagnosis and roster move surfaced in local beat coverage before making the national rounds. One report detailed that Buttó was pulled after reporting arm fatigue and then moved to the 15-day injured list, with the team outlining a multi-month timetable for his return, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
Procedure And Where It Was Done
Giants officials said Buttó underwent the procedure last Friday at Stanford Medical Center, where vascular surgeon Dr. Jason Lee removed the clot from his right arm. Just two days earlier, last Wednesday in San Diego, Buttó struggled through a rough outing: he faced eight batters, recorded only one out, issued four walks and allowed four runs while his average fastball velocity dipped noticeably, according to The Mercury News.
Manager Reaction And Immediate Outlook
Manager Tony Vitello told reporters that Buttó's clot was removed Friday evening and described the procedure as less extensive than expected, saying the update brought "peace of mind" after earlier worries about circulation, as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle. His comments came amid a flurry of other medical updates and lineup tweaks the Giants were juggling around last Friday's game.
Bullpen Implications
Buttó had emerged as one of the Giants' late-inning options, so his sudden absence opened a hole that San Francisco moved quickly to fill by recalling Blade Tidwell to help cover relief innings. Coverage of the situation has noted that the clot could be connected to thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that has sidelined other pitchers, and that the Giants' medical staff will stay alert for any need for further intervention, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
What Comes Next
The Giants say they will map out a throwing and rehab program once Buttó clears the immediate post-surgery phase and will track whether he needs additional procedures or a blood-thinning regimen. Alongside Buttó's situation, local coverage has pointed to other short-term pitching concerns - Joel Peguero's grade-2 hamstring strain and Hayden Birdsong's season-ending Tommy John surgery - as the club tries to protect its pitching depth in the opening weeks of April, according to The Mercury News.
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