NEW YORK _ Top Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey has had a history of elbow troubles since the team made him its first-round draft pick in 2013, which is the primary reason why he has pitched just five minor league games since being shut down one month early at the end of the 2014 season.
It almost seemed inevitable, but the 21-year-old Harvey will now undergo ulnar collateral reconstruction surgery _ commonly known as Tommy John surgery _ on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Donald D'Alessandro.
The procedure ends Harvey's season. Recovery time from Tommy John elbow reconstruction is typically about one year.
Harvey, who was pitching with Short-A Aberdeen after sports hernia surgery in May, left Saturday's game after 11/3 innings and just 23 pitches because of right forearm soreness.
He was in the process of working his innings count up, first pitching in the Gulf Coast League before making his third start with the IronBirds on Saturday. In his previous start with Aberdeen, Harvey threw a season-high 69 pitches, allowing nine base runners and three runs (two earned) over a season-high 31/3 innings.
Injuries have limited Harvey to just 30 minor league starts since the Orioles made him the 22nd overall pick in 2013 out of Bandys High School in North Carolina. He was shut down one month early in 2014, his first full minor league season, with forearm soreness and missed the entire 2015 season with various injuries. He suffered a hairline fracture in his shin after taking a comebacker in a minor league spring training game and then dealt with more arm soreness. He received a platelet rich plasma injection to help his recovery, but didn't pitch for the rest of last season.
