"It was the Braves' worst fears realized but news they expected: pitcher Brandon Beachy needs season-ending surgery for his torn elbow ligament.
The burgeoning ace will have ligament-transplant surgery (aka "Tommy John" surgery) done on Thursday by Dr. James Andrews, the renowned specialist who examined his elbow and MRI results on Wednesday to provide a second opinion, after a Braves orthopedist diagnosed a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Rehabilitation from the surgery is typically 11-13 months, meaning Beachy could be expected to return sometime around the 2013 All-Star break.
"It's a shame, but Dr. Andrews confirmed what our doctors saw," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, "and he's going to have the procedure [Thursday]. We're going to miss him.""
