Giants RHP Cueto out for year, to undergo Tommy John surgery

[August 02, 2018]  San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto will undergo Tommy John surgery on Thursday, the team announced via Twitter on Wednesday.

The season-ending surgery will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlin Jobe clinic in Los Angeles.

Cueto was placed back on the 10-day disabled list Monday because of a right elbow sprain, with Giants manager Bruce Bochy then calling Tommy John surgery a "strong possibility."

Cueto, 32, departed his Saturday start against the Milwaukee Brewers after four innings due to pain in his elbow and met with doctors on Sunday. The 11-year-veteran struggled with his velocity against Milwaukee and gave up four runs and eight hits before leaving. He told reporters afterward that he felt pain in the elbow after every pitch.

"I keep telling you guys and I keep telling myself that I'm fine, but in reality I'm not," Cueto told reporters through a translator. "It's very difficult every time I go out there. Every time I throw a pitch it bothers me."

Cueto, 3-2 with a 3.23 in nine starts this season, returned in early July after missing more than two months because of elbow pain. During that DL stint, the Giants feared Cueto might have a torn ulnar collateral ligament, so they had him examined by Dr. James Andrews. The prognosis was that no surgery was needed, and Cueto instead was told to rest his elbow.

Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports

However, the results were not good after his return. Cueto was 3-0 with an 0.84 ERA in five starts before going to the DL, but 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts afterward. Cueto also served up seven homers in four post-DL starts after giving up just one in the five early-season outings.

--Field Level Media

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