Houston, TX – Houston Astros pitcher Alex White will have Tommy John surgery on his ailing right elbow next week, effectively pushing his return to action into 2014.
White was originally slated to miss at least the first two months of the season after being diagnosed with a strained right elbow in late March.
He'd been pulled from a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs after complaining of a sore elbow, and an examination that followed revealed the strain. The team placed the 24-year-old on the 60-day disabled list on March 30.
On Friday, the news was more severe, as the right-hander will have a procedure to reconstruct his ulnar collateral ligament that will end his 2013 season before it began.
White went just 2-9 with a 5.51 earned run average in 23 games (20 starts) for the Rockies in 2012. He was traded by Colorado to the Astros during the offseason.
Houston also designated pitcher Edgar Gonzalez for assignment to clear a roster spot for recently-acquired hurler Travis Blackley.
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