In the final week of the season, Braves right-hander Joe Jiménez played a crucial role in securing Atlanta’s postseason berth. He pitched on September 28, then appeared in both games of a doubleheader against the Mets on September 30, with the second outing clinching the team’s playoff spot. Two days later, he took the mound again in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Padres.
Despite his dominance on the field, Jiménez was privately battling cartilage damage in his left knee, a condition known only to those within the organization.
“Oh yeah, we knew he was hurting,” said fellow reliever Dylan Lee. “There were times when he struggled just getting off the bus or the plane after a game—you could tell he was in pain.”
Jiménez first noticed discomfort in July and had his knee examined in August. However, after consulting multiple doctors, he decided the issue wasn’t severe enough to stop pitching.
“I’ve played through injuries before, and I didn’t think this was going to be that bad,” Jiménez said. “It didn’t bother me while pitching, so I kept going and figured we’d reassess after the season.”
That reassessment in October brought an unexpected revelation—his knee damage had worsened, requiring surgery. The Braves described it as a procedure to repair cartilage damage, while Jiménez believed it involved a meniscus cartilage transplant.
The news came as a shock. “I was pitching fine, so nobody expected this,” Jiménez said. “When the doctor said I’d need surgery and miss significant time, it was surprising. But after consulting other doctors, we knew it was the right decision.”
Even while dealing with the injury, Jiménez remained highly effective. From July through the end of the regular season, he posted a 2.23 ERA over 32 1/3 innings, striking out 43 and walking just nine. He even touched 96 mph on the final day of the season and pitched a scoreless inning in the playoffs.
“When I saw him after surgery, I was shocked,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It just shows how tough he is. He performed at such a high level, and I hated that he had to miss time again. First, it was his back two years ago, and now this. But he’ll come back even stronger.”
Jiménez’s surgery was necessary to ensure his long-term health. Doctors warned that avoiding the procedure could have led to chronic issues that might have impacted his ability to pitch effectively.
The Braves expect Jiménez to be out for eight to 12 months. If he recovers on the shorter end of that timeline, he could return around the All-Star break. If his rehab extends to a full year, he’ll miss the entire 2025 season.
Regardless of the uncertainty, Jiménez is staying focused. “Right now, I’m just working on my rehab every day,” he said. “Hopefully, I can pitch this year, but we’ll have to see how things progress. For now, I’m taking it one day at a time.”
Leave a Reply