Brandon Beachy's Tommy John Surgery 'Successful'

Five days ago, Braves righthander Brandon Beachy was leading the National League in ERA and ERA+ and was likely to be named to the league’s All-Star team, with a chance to be the starting pitcher.

After leaving Saturday’s game with elbow soreness, events moved frighteningly quickly — Beachy headed right to Tommy John surgery. Dave O’Brien:

Braves right-hander Brandon Beachy underwent successful surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Thursday, the Braves announced. The surgery, known as “Tommy John” was performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in his Gulf Breeze, Fla. clinic.

Teams seem to be doing these sorts of things much more quickly now than before, and recovery times have lessened. Tommy John surgery used to mean 18 months before a pitcher can return; O’Brien’s article says the Braves hope Beachy will be back in 11-13 months, or by next year’s All-Star break.

Beachy’s 2.00 ERA still leads the National League, at least for now, and will until his inning total no longer qualifies. He and the Braves would probably prefer he’d be on the mound.

For more on the Braves, please visit Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta.

Brandon Beachy Injury: Tommy John Surgery Tomorrow

Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves' worst fears were justified. Already diagnosed with a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his pitching elbow, the Braves' Brandon Beachy will miss the rest of this season.

The same day the Braves hit five home runs and beat the Yankees 10-5, Beachy visited Dr. James Andrews and got the bad news:

#Braves Beachy will have Tommy John surgery Thur.

— David O'Brien (@ajcbraves) June 20, 2012

Beachy's going to miss the rest of this season, of course, and probably a goodly chunk of next season as well. What makes this even worse is how well Beachy was pitching this season: in 13 starts, he's posted a 2.00 ERA, tied with R.A. Dickey for the best mark in the majors.

The Braves do have prospect Julio Teheran waiting in the wings; he got hammered in his only big-league start, last week, but has a 3.24 ERA with triple-A Gwinnett this season.

Update: It looks like Jair Jurrjens will come off the DL and fill Beachy's slot in the rotation.

Brandon Beachy's MRI Reveals Partial UCL Tear

Brandon Beachy was the National League's ERA leader all by his lonesome entering Monday night. The Braves hurler no longer is, after another sensational outing by R.A. Dickey, but he's also got bigger problems: an MRI revealed a tear in his right elbow.

Beachy has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Will see Dr. Andrews on Wednesday

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 19, 2012

Beachy had posted a 2.00 ERA in 81 innings this year before leaving a game against the Orioles on Saturday with elbow soreness. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, and the Braves recalled Todd Redmond from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his place.

If his elbow injury requires Tommy John surgery, Beachy would join Tim Hudson, who had the procedure performed in 2008, in a Braves rotation that has had its share of work done.

For more on the Braves, please visit Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta.

Braves' Brandon Beachy Placed On Disabled List

The Braves’ Brandon Beachy, who came into Saturday night’s game against the Orioles as the ERA leader in the major leagues, threw three scoreless innings and then was removed with soreness in his right elbow. He wound up having a run charged to him after he departed, leaving his season ERA at an even 2.00, still tops among all qualified pitchers.

It’s more than just soreness, apparently:

Brandon Beachy has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. RHP Todd Redmond has been recalled from Gwinnett. He will wear #57.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 17, 2012

Perhaps the Braves are just being cautious. There seems to be a lot of this sort of thing going around baseball this season. Soreness that doesn’t appear to be much at first. Then a DL stint. Then Tommy John surgery.

We’re not that far along with Beachy, and certainly the Braves hope it doesn’t come to that. But the way things are going…

For more on the Braves, please visit Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta.

Brandon Beachy Injury: Exits With Elbow Soreness

Brandon Beachy left his start Saturday due to elbow soreness.