Indians top prospect Rondon has Tommy John elbow surgery

CLEVELAND -- Hector Rondon, one of the Cleveland Indians' top pitching prospects, has undergone reconstructive Tommy John elbow surgery.

The team announced that the hard-throwing right-hander had the operation on Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews.

"Hector was one of the players that if the injury didn't happen and he had developed that we likely would have taken a look at in September," Indians manager Manny Acta said Thursday.

Rondon, a 22-year-old who was the organization's minor-league pitcher of the year in 2009, went 1-3 with a 8.53 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A Columbus.

He last pitched on May 12 before being shut down with soreness. The Indians sent him to their year-round training complex in Arizona, but he experienced more pain and surgery was recommended.

"Tommy John [surgery] is not what it used to be and a lot of times a guy comes back in about one year and sometimes even stronger," Acta said. "We hope for the best for Hector. I feel bad for him."

The Indians have been hit hard by injuries on the major-league level, too. The top four hitters in their opening day lineup have spent time on the disabled list with center fielder Grady Sizemore out for the season after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in May. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (broken left arm), right fielder Shin-Soo Choo (strained right thumb) and designated hitter Travis Hafner (shoulder fatigue) also missed time.

Top prospect Carlos Santana, a switch-hitting catcher called up in June, had season-ending surgery on his left knee after being hurt in a home-plate collision in Boston on Aug. 2.

"It's been unfortunate," Acta said. "We don't have the depth to substitute for all these players and survive."