Drew Smyly to undergo Tommy John surgery

World Baseball Classic - Pool F - Game 2 - Venezuela v United States

Drew Smyly's season with the Mariners is over without ever throwing a pitch in the regular season.

The Mariners announced Wednesday morning that Smyly will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his left elbow. The surgery is tentatively scheduled for July 6 with Dr. James Andrews. Recovery time is generally 12-15 months.

Smyly was placed on the disabled list to begin the season after sustaining a strain to the flexor bundle in his arm in spring training. 

The injury surfaced after Smyly returned from pitching in the World Baseball Classic for the United States. He struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings with Team USA against Venezuela on March 15, allowing just one run. He returned to the Mariners and pitched twice - once in a minor league spring training game and once against the Cincinnati Reds - before the injury to his flexor bundle became an issue.

Smyly allowed five runs on six hits with four walks, a strikeout and three home runs allowed against Cincinnati. Following his bullpen days later is when the discomfort in his elbow became apparent.

Smyly had been progressing toward a return for the Mariners. He was scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday, only to be scratched from that session prior to Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

He'll now miss the remainder of the 2017 and most of the 2018 season before being able to return to the big leagues.

The Mariners traded for Smyly in January, sending outfielder Mallex Smith, shortstop Carlos Vargas and left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Smyly.


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