Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Luis Garcia underwent surgery on his right elbow on Friday, general manager Dana Brown said.
The ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, or Tommy John surgery, means Garcia will miss the rest of the 2023 season and is expected to return at some point in the 2024 season.
Garcia had exited his May 1 start after just eight pitches of a 7-3 home win over the San Francisco Giants and went on the injured list for the first time in his entire career, in the majors and minors.
In six games (all starts) this season, Garcia is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA, 31 strikeouts, 10 walks and 25 hits in 27 innings. He is 28-19 with a 3.61 ERA in 352 innings over 69 games (63 starts), all with the Astros.
The 26-year-old finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, going 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 30 appearances (28 starts).
The Astros' rotation already been without Lance McCullers Jr., who has not pitched this season because of a forearm strain. Right-handed starter Jose Urquidy is on the 15-day IL with a shoulder injury and said Friday he hopes to resume throwing next week, the Houston Chronicle reported.
