Jesse Biddle, the Phillies' former first-round draft pick from Germantown Friends School, will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, interim general manager Scott Proefrock said Sunday.
Team physician Michael Ciccotti will perform the operation on Oct. 14 in Philadelphia. The typical recovery time for Tommy John surgery is 12 to 18 months.
Biddle recently went for a second opinion, which confirmed Ciccotti's diagnosis. The 23-year-old lefthander finished his season with triple-A Lehigh Valley on the disabled list with a shoulder strain.
News of reconstructive surgery is a tough blow for Biddle, drafted 27th overall in 2010 but still yet to reach the major leagues.