MESA, Ariz. -- Right-hander Devin Williams, the Brewers' top Draft pick in 2013, underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday and will miss the 2017 season, farm director Tom Flanagan confirmed. MLB.com's Jim Callis first reported Williams needed the procedure.
Williams had been sidelined since March 7, when he exited a Minor League intrasquad game with pain in his right elbow. He was examined the next day by Brewers head physician William Raasch, then received a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews before agreeing to surgery.
With the setback, Williams fell from No. 18 to No. 27 on MLBPipeline.com's list of the Top 30 Brewers prospects.
This is Williams' third straight Spring Training injury, and by far the most serious. His regular-season debut in 2015 was delayed until May 16 because of a forearm flexor strain. In '16, he didn't pitch until May 12 because of a minor shoulder injury. Williams went on to go 7-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 22 games (12 starts) between Class A Wisconsin and Class A Advanced Brevard County last season.
Though he was drafted in the second round, Williams was the Brewers' top pick in 2013 because they had surrendered their first-round selection to sign free agent Kyle Lohse. Williams has a 3.79 ERA and 288 strikeouts in his first 287 professional innings.