Padres prospect Espinoza to undergo Tommy John surgery
One of the San Diego Padres' most promising prospects will be out of commission for the foreseeable future.
The Padres confirmed Friday that prized right-hander Anderson Espinoza, the club's fifth-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, will undergo Tommy John surgery due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
The surgery will be performed next week by Dr. Keith Meister, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, and could sideline him for all of next season.
Espinoza hasn't thrown a pitch this season due to forearm tightness, though he had recently begun throwing bullpen sessions for the first time all year. General manager A.J. Preller told Lin that Espinoza felt "pulling" in his arm during his most recent throwing session Thursday, which eventually led to the discovery of his injury.
San Diego acquired Espinoza from the Boston Red Sox last July in a controversial trade for left-hander Drew Pomeranz. The 19-year-old struck out 100 batters while posting a 4.49 ERA and 1.385 WHIP in 108 1/3 innings last season, split between the Padres' and Red Sox Single-A affiliates.
MLB Pipeline ranks Espinoza the 61st overall prospect in baseball.