VIERA, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals have lost top pitching prospect Sammy Solis for the season because an elbow injury.
Washington said Tuesday that Solis will need major surgery on his left elbow.
The 23-year-old Solis split last season between Class A teams in Hagerstown and Potomac. He felt pain during the Arizona Fall League but there were conflicting opinions on whether he needed Tommy John surgery. Washington hoped he could get through the injury with rehabilitation and invited him to spring training as part of their accelerated development program.
But the pain returned during a throwing session last Friday. General manager Mike Rizzo says the ligament-replacement operation will be performed in Los Angeles next week by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who did the same procedure on Washington pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman.
