When the San Francisco Giants signed Cueto, there were concerns about his durability. Though, he had a relatively good track record, Cueto had expressed forearm and elbow discomfort throughout the years.
The issue worsened during the 2017 season when he was unable to finish a rehab start.
Cueto started the 2018 season strong, but lingering elbow discomfort continued to persist. After several poor starts, diminished fastball velocity, and continued elbow pain, Cueto elected to have Tommy John Surgery.
His surgery took place at the beginning of August. The recovery period is between 12 and 18 months.