Brandon Cumpton is out for the year. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff lost a starter/long reliever on Tuesday after right-hander Brandon Cumpton underwent Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery.
The procedure, performed by Dr. James Andrews, will likely sideline Cumpton for this year and possibly the early part of the 2016 season. He was expected to compete for a long relief role and also possibly make spot starts for the Pirates in 2015.
Last year, the 26-year-old Cumpton pitched in 16 games, including 10 starts, and posted a 3-4 record with a 4.89 ERA in 70 innings. He made his major league debut with the Pirates in 2013 and was 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA in six games (five starts).
