Riske to undergo elbow surgery

Brewers reliever David Riske tried rehab, but on Tuesday he succumbed to season-ending surgery to repair a ligament in his right elbow.

Dr. Lewis Yocum, who examined Riske on Monday in Los Angeles, was to perform the surgery. It was expected that Riske would need a full reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament — also known as Tommy John surgery — but Ash wrote on his Twtter feed that the extent of the procedure would be determined once Yocum got a look at the damage inside the elbow.

Ash made his announcement on Tuesday morning, just as the big league Brewers were scrambling to summon support for an overworked and banged-up bullpen. They began the season with hope that Riske would be a durable option, but he made only one appearance before going to the disabled list with discomfort.

Last year, Riske pitched through discomfort for much of the season and ran up a 5.32 ERA in 45 games.

Tommy John surgery typically sidelines a pitcher for 9-12 months the first time he has the procedure. Riske still has one more season on the three-year, $13 million contract he finalized with the Brewers at the 2007 Winter Meetings.