LOS ANGELES - A.J. Puk, the A’s top pitching prospect, underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles, the team announced Wednesday.
Prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who was featured in the book “The Arm” about the wave of Tommy John surgeries in recent years, performed Puk’s surgery. Puk, 22, is expected to miss 12-18 months.
The left-hander was Oakland’s most impressive pitcher much of spring training and appeared to be a lock in the A’s rotation sometime this season before feeling biceps discomfort after his last spring appearance on March 16.
ElAttrache is known for some cutting edge techniques, particularly when it comes to attaching the new ulnar collateral ligament.