Tommy John Surgery Scheduled Today for Gavin Floyd

Gavin Floyd will undergo surgery today to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his pitching elbow. (Image Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)

A torn ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his right elbow will conclusively end Gavin Floyd’s season and could potentially keep the right-hander out for a substantial amount of time. The 30 year old is scheduled to undergo Tommy John Surgery later today. Due to the complexity of the two procedures, thanks to the flexor muscle concern, he’s projected to miss 14-19 months, which could cost him all of next season as well.

Floyd made five starts for the Chicago White Sox this season, totaling just 24.1 IP, in which he went 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA and 1.603 WHIP. His K/9 and BB/9 were at career best levels, despite the small sample size, but something was clearly not right with Floyd’s mechanics as he’d struggled mightily on the mound. His last start lasted just 2.2 IP on April 27th against the Tampa Bay Rays, ultimately leading Floyd to visit with orthopedic surgeon David Altchek Monday morning. It was then that the decision was made to undergo surgery.

With a 14-19 month expected recovery period, the best case scenario would have Floyd returning to a Major League mound in July 2014.

Floyd came to the White Sox in a 2006 trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, a deal which sent Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia and also brought Gio Gonzalez to Chicago (though he’d never throw a pitch for them in the Major Leagues). Over the following seven seasons he’s thrown 1,042.1 IP with a 4.22 ERA, 1.296 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9. He’d post a 63-65 record over that stretch, including a 17 win season in 2008. Chicago exercised a $9.5 Million club option last October to bring Floyd back for another year, but he will be a free agent at season’s end.

Presuming he can demonstrate that he’s healthy Floyd will land a contract somewhere – he’ll still only be 32 even if he is forced to miss the entire 2014 season. It still remains to be seen when and where he will throw his next pitch.