Benjamin's Bennett Sousa expected to miss rest of Houston Astros 2024 season
Former Benjamin star Bennett Sousa has suffered a premature end to his 2024 MLB season.
The Houston Astros announced Thursday afternoon that Sousa recently underwent surgery due to thoracic outlet syndrome in his left throwing shoulder. He is not expected to return this year.
Sousa, who turned 29 on Saturday, was picked up by the Astros last September and was expected to compete for a role in the Houston bullpen this season.
He started the season on the 15-day injured list, however, and never appeared for Houston prior to the surgery.
Spring training: Benjamin's Bennett Sousa returns home to fight for place in Houston Astros bullpen
Who is Bennett Sousa?
Sousa was a standout pitcher for the Benjamin varsity baseball team and was named to The Post's First Team All-Area team in 2014.
He played four seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, winning a national championship in 2015 as a freshman. He was drafted late in the 2017 MLB draft but chose to complete his collegiate eligibility. He finished his Virginia career with a 12-5 record and 5.50 ERA.
The White Sox drafted Sousa in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB draft and he made the opening day roster for Chicago in 2022, debuting out of the bullpen in April.
He began the 2023 season in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system and bounced around several teams before landing with the Astros in September.
Sousa has appeared in 32 games in two seasons of MLB service. He has a 3-0 with a 7.06 ERA for his career.
What is thoracic outlet syndrome?
Thoracic outlet syndrome involves pain and weakness due to compression of nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder region from the lower neck to the armpit.
Surgery to repair the issue is relatively new and has been completed on only a few dozen professional pitchers, including former standouts Josh Beckett, Matt Harvey and Stephen Strasburg.
The procedure involves removing the first rib under the shoulder to improve blood flow. Recovery timetables vary from player to player.
The issue can be connected to recurring shoulder issues: Sousa was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Milwaukee Brewers in June 2023 due to left shoulder irritation.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Bennett Sousa expected to miss rest of Houston Astros 2024 season
