Brandon Beachy to undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday

brandonbeachy
The news was expected. Atlanta Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy will undergo his second Tommy John surgery on Friday. Beachy, much like Kris Medlen, will miss the entire 2014 season for the Braves.

Adding in Friday’s surgery, Beachy will have undergone three surgeries on his right elbow in just 21 months.

Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery on Beachy’s elbow, rather than Dr. James Andrews who performed the first one. Dr. Andrews did perform the surgery on Medlen earlier on Tuesday.

Beachy and Medlen will join Braves reliever Jonny Venters in a club of pitchers who have undergone two Tommy John surgeries.

“He chose to have it out there” in Los Angeles, general manager Frank Wren said of Beachy’s decision, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “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. And 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, is that confidence. So if that’s how he feels, that’s OK….”

“If they were going to someone who had more of an experimental or an odd procedure, then I think we would try to persuade them a little bit. But Dr. ElAttrache is one of the top guys, as well. And it is somewhat limiting in Medlen and Beachy both in t hat you have to go to a doctor that does the same procedure, because this procedure is not compatible with some other procedures, in a (second TJ surgery).”

Currently the Braves are expected to start Julio Teheran in their season opener on March 31. Freddy Garcia, Alex Wood and David Hale are all expected to be part of the Braves initial run though the rotation.

The Braves expect Mike Minor and Ervin Santana to be ready by mid-April. Gavin Floyd should be ready sometime in May. The Braves have said they do not plan to seek additional pitchers at this time.

John Boarman
John Boarmanhttp://www.tireball.com
Founder and Owner of Tireball Sports.

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