Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Brandon Beachy will have Tommy John surgery in his right elbow for the second time Friday and is expected to miss the entire season, the team announced Thursday.
The Braves said that Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Neal ElAttrache will operate in Los Angeles. Beachy’s ulnar collateral ligament was reconstructed by Dr. James Andrews on June 21, 2012, and Beachy returned to go 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 30 innings over five starts from July 29 to Aug. 20 last summer.
Beachy now faces the same path that awaits Braves rotation teammate Kris Medlen, who underwent his own second Tommy John surgery on Tuesday at Andrews’ Pensacola, Fla., office.
Pitchers typically face a 12-to-14-month rehab process following the procedure. The timetable is often a little longer for those who have undergone the surgery for a second time.
Beachy finished last season on the disabled list because of elbow inflammation and left his third spring training start after two innings on March 10 complaining of soreness in his elbow and biceps.
Beachy was examined Monday by Andrews, who recommended surgery, and the 27-year-old sought a second opinion with ElAttrache.
“It was confirmed by both doctors that he needed it, so he chose to have the surgery out there,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “The way I look at it: This is his career, he’s got to feel confident and comfortable with how this is going to play out. If he has a better comfort level with one doctor versus another, that’s OK. That’s all part of the healing process going forward, that confidence. If that’s how he feels, that’s OK.”