Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Luke Hochevar will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Royals manager Ned Yost announced Friday.
Hochevar, 30, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft. Although he struggled as a starting pitcher, he seemed to find his niche as a reliever last season, when he went 5-2 with a 1.92 earned run average.
However, he is scheduled to become a free agent after this season and will not be ready to pitch again until next season. As a result, he probably will not be with the Royals in 2015 after spending his first seven seasons in Kansas City.
Hochevar first felt pain in his elbow on Monday. On Tuesday, an MRI revealed significant damage.