Dodgers Ace To Miss 2023 After Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

A brutal blow to the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff, and playoff hopes, not only for this season, but for next as well. Walker Buehler has announced that he's undergone Tommy John surgery, which almost certainly rules him out through all of 2023. 

Walker Buehler confirms that his elbow surgery is Tommy John surgery pic.twitter.com/Aa2gNtWYM0

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) August 23, 2022

As he posted himself on Instagram, it's his second TJ surgery; the first was in 2015 shortly after he was selected in the MLB Draft at No. 24 overall. He was 21 years old at that time. Often, recovery from a 2nd Tommy John takes longer than the first. 

Dr. Neal El Attrache made the decision to do the TJ procedure during surgery. This was Walker Buehler #Dodgers 2nd TJ of his career. Prayers his way for full recovery.

— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) August 23, 2022

The decision to perform Tommy John was made during the elbow surgery that he was already scheduled to undergo, as announced by the Dodgers a couple of weeks ago.  

The procedure also included a flexor tendon repair.

When the elbow issues first cropped up in June, the severity wasn't certain. He underwent surgery to remove bone spurs, hoping that it would allow him to come back this season. 

Now the 28-year-old two-time All-Star will not throw a pitch for the Dodgers again until 2024, as he's about to turn 30. 

Buehler came into the season with a career 46-16 record, and an lifetime ERA under 3.00. But he had diminished returns this season even before he was shut down, with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts with a 1.29 WHIP. 

Photos: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports