BALTIMORE -- A's right-hander Chris Bassitt underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday, and the team has deemed the operation a success.
Bassitt is expected to return to Oakland on Sunday and begin his rehab the following day, embarking on a recovery period that typically spans 12-18 months for first-time Tommy John patients.
"From what I understand, the surgery went really well," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I think he can be optimistic that in the proper timetable that it takes to get through this thing he'll be back and pitching in the fashion he was before.
"A lot of power pitchers that throw hard come back throwing just as hard, if not harder at times. One thing you know about Chris, he's going to rehab the right way and get himself in position to perform at a high level again."
Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed the surgery at Beacon Orthopedics in Cincinnati, reconstructing the ulnar collateral ligament of Bassitt's pitching elbow with an ipsilateral palmaris longus graft.
In a release, the A's said, "Dr. Kremchek was pleased with the surgery and the outcome of the procedure."
Bassitt, 27, was 0-2 with a 6.11 ERA in five starts this season; he posted a 2.79 ERA in his first three starts before logging a 13.50 ERA in his final two starts, later revealing he had been pitching with discomfort.