PHILADELPHIA -- First-round pick Walker Buehler will undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery on Wednesday and be out 12 to 18 months, the Dodgers announced on Tuesday.
Buehler, a slender right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt, was the 24th overall pick. Confirmation of his injury is the other shoe to drop on a disappointing 2015 Draft after the Dodgers were unable to sign Kyle Funkhouser, the 35th overall pick and compensation for Boston's signing of Hanley Ramirez.
General manager Farhan Zaidi said the Dodgers knew there was some risk with Buehler, who experienced arm discomfort during the season, but he didn't know he needed surgery until after the Draft and a full set of medical scans were performed.