By Bill Brink / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
SAN DIEGO — Pirates minor league right-hander Nick Kingham had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery Wednesday, the team announced, ending his season and starting a recovery process that will take at least a year.
Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopedic surgeon and medical director for the New York Mets, performed the surgery. Dr. Altchek also did No. 2 prospect Jameson Taillon’s Tommy John surgery in April 2014.
While Kingham has not yet pitched in the majors, losing him for a year represents another blow to the Pirates’ starting depth. Right-hander Brandon Cumpton, who has joined the rotation in case of injuries in the past two years, needed Tommy John surgery during spring training.