Brewers reliever Angel Zerpa will undergo elbow surgery, miss rest of 2026

ST. LOUIS – Angel Zerpa is out for the season.

The Milwaukee Brewers left-hander will undergo reconstructive surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow next week and will miss the rest of the 2026 regular season and postseason, the team said May 5.

Zerpa's estimated timeline to return is spring or summer of 2027.

Angel Zerpa struck out only eight batters in 12 2/3 innings while walking six and allowing two home runs and compiling a 6.39 ERA.

Acquired in the offseason from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears, Zerpa was expected to be a critical piece of the Brewers' late-game bullpen. But after making six appearances out of Venezuela's eight games in the World Baseball Classic, where he dominated as an electric high-leverage arm, Zerpa never quite looked fully right across 12 games with Milwaukee.

The 26-year-old had a 6.39 ERA and struck out only eight in 12 2/3 innings while walking six and allowing two home runs.

Zerpa is under team control for the Brewers through 2028. He's making $1.1 million through arbitration this year and would figure to receive a minimal bump next season, should the Brewers keep him on the roster.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: