Washington Nationals left-hander Luis Avilan has decided to undergo Tommy John surgery to correct a torn UCL in his elbow, manager Dave Martinez announced Monday.
Avilan learned he torn his UCL on Saturday, but the 31-year-old reliever was deciding between rehabbing the injury or having season-ending surgery. He chose the latter option, which ends his campaign after five innings.
“I wish him all the best,” Martinez said. “I know he’s going to go through the process, it’s going to be months. But hopefully he can get back and pitch again.”
Avilan has pitched for seven teams in his 10-year career, including four seasons with the Atlanta Braves and three with the Los Angeles Dodgers.