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GOODYEAR -- Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling had surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday morning in Los Angeles as planned, only it wasn't the scheduled Tommy John procedure.
Stripling had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his swollen and inflamed elbow. The procedure was performed by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Once the inflammation subsides and Stripling's range of motion improves, he will have the Tommy John procedure, which involves reconstruction of the elbow by replacing the torn ulnar collateral ligament with a tendon from elsewhere in the body.
"It was a little out of the ordinary, but nothing that's totally unusual," manager Don Mattingly said on Wednesday. "I don't think it changes the timetable or anything. He just needed some inflammation to calm down."
Stripling, 24, suffered the tear while throwing live batting practice on Feb. 21, and didn't tell trainers or coaches for six days, even pitching two innings in the Cactus League opener on Feb. 26. He will miss the 2014 season.