CHICAGO -- Right-hander Edgar Santana will undergo Tommy John surgery, Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk announced on Wednesday.
Santana, 26, will miss the entire 2019 season, as pitchers typically return to Major League competition 14 to 16 months after the surgery. Dr. James Andrews, who confirmed the club's diagnosis on Wednesday morning, will perform the surgery at a date to be determined, Tomczyk said.
Santana exited Friday's game in the middle of the sixth inning after feeling tightness in his forearm and elbow. He also felt "a little bit" of tightness in his forearm in August, Tomczyk said, and the Pirates responded by giving him six days off.