LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right-hander Pablo Fernandez underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday in Arizona, and will be out for the rest of the 2016 season.
The usual recovery time for the elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction procedure ranges from between 12-18 months.
"Obviously, Pablo's injury and subsequent surgery is disappointing for him and our entire organization, but the procedure was a success," said Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler. "We look forward to supporting him through the rehab process, and we're confident Pablo will recover fully. He remains part of our future."
Fernandez, now 26, was signed by the Dodgers out of Cuba on May 19, 2015 to a minor league deal with an $8 million bonus. After pitching most of his seven seasons in the Cuban Serie Nacional in relief, Fernandez was stretched into a starting role with the Dodgers.
"He has a five-pitch mix. He has a really good feel for pitching, and has shown really good command throughout his career," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said at the time of the signing. "He's got the 'El Duque' Orlando Hernandez delivery, which a lot of Cuban pitchers seem to have. He idolizes him and wants to pitch like him, which wouldn't be a bad outcome."
He had a 3.92 in 10 starts across three minor league levels in 2015, including the last four starts with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, with a total of 41 strikeouts and seven walks in 43⅔ innings. But he missed the last two weeks of the season, placed on the disabled list with elbow tightness.
Fernandez began the 2016 season on the disabled list on the Quakes roster.