Joe Wieland had a promising debut for the Padres, posting a 4.55 ERA and 24/9 K/BB ratio through five starts after coming over from the Rangers in last year’s Mike Adams trade, but the 22-year-old rookie hasn’t pitched since being shut down with elbow problems in early May.
And now he won’t pitch until at least the middle of next season, as Wieland is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery that will knock him out for 12 months.
Manager Bud Black told Jeff Sanders of the North County Times that the decision to have surgery came after Wieland tried to increase the intensity of his rehab program and the pain reoccurred.
According to Sanders he’ll go under the knife within a couple weeks and Dr. Lewis Yocum will do the honors.