Prospect Stripling to have Tommy John surgery
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dodgers pitching prospect Ross Stripling will undergo Tommy John right elbow reconstruction Wednesday in Los Angeles, manager Don Mattingly confirmed Tuesday.
Stripling tore his ligament while throwing live batting practice Feb. 23, didn't tell anybody about the injury, then pitched one inning Feb. 26 before reporting the discomfort. An MRI revealed the extent of the injury.
Tommy John surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Everything happens for a reason!
- Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) March 4, 2014
Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the same operation from which Chad Billingsley and Scott Elbert are rehabbing.
Stripling was ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the organization by MLB.com, while the Dodgers considered him right behind Zach Lee among Minor League pitchers who could make their Major league debuts this year.
He was a fifth-round pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M and split time last year between Class A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga for a combined 8-4 mark and 2.82 ERA.
"He had been throwing the ball good," said Mattingly, who spoke to Stripling on Monday. "He had a pretty good idea once they saw the MRI. He seemed OK, disappointed."