Giants pitcher Tyler Beede to undergo Tommy John surgery Friday

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There is no timetable for Major League Baseball to resume this season, but most around the game are expecting to miss at least a couple of months' worth of games.

Tyler Beede will be out considerably longer.

The Giants right-hander will have Tommy John surgery Friday, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi announced.

Beede had an MRI on March 3 after feeling tightness in his right elbow, and immediately was shut down with an elbow sprain and flexor strain. He has spent part of the last couple of weeks getting additional opinions, and it was clear that surgery was the best option.

"As Tyler consulted with multiple doctors on in-person visits and also provided [his test results], that was kind of the increasing consensus of the group of doctors that we were consulting with, that surgery was advisable," Zaidi said. "Rehab continued to be an option, but for somebody at his age, the feeling was even if he was able to rehab successfully, it might only be a matter of time before he starts having symptoms again."

Tommy John surgery will sideline 26-year-old Beede, who was likely to be the Giants' fifth starter, for at least a year. Even with rehab, he was going to miss much of the first half of the season, but there's perhaps a silver lining in the timing of this.

Without any hiccups in the rehab process, Beede should be back for most, if not all, of the 2021 season. The season he is missing will be shortened, but Zaidi said the coronavirus had no impact on the decision for Beede to have surgery now. 

"I think that was already Tyler's strong lean, and the organization certainly supported him," Zaidi said. "I think it was headed that way, even independent of the layoff we're in right now."

Beede was positive the last time he spoke to reporters, saying he hoped to avoid surgery. But his initial diagnosis did indicate a procedure likely was coming at some point. It's a blow for Beede, who entered camp with the potential to have a breakout season for the Giants.

The former first-round draft pick showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie and was a standout in late February, hitting 97 to 98 mph in appearances. 

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Beede's surgery will be done by Dr. Keith Meister, who works in the Dallas area, not far from Beede's offseason home in Houston. The Giants have closed both of their facilities in Scottsdale but plan to keep in touch with players, particularly those who are rehabbing. 

The road back will be a lengthy one, but Beede can follow the path set by the planned Opening Day starter. Johnny Cueto had Tommy John surgery in August 2018 and returned to the mound last September. 

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