Hunter Harvey to undergo TJ surgery Tuesday

NEW YORK - Top Orioles prospect Hunter Harvey will undergo ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday, news that had been anticipated but only confirmed this afternoon.

Dr. Donald D'Alessandro will perform the UCL reconstruction in Charlotte, N.C.

Harvey, 21, left Saturday's start at short-season Single-A Aberdeen after throwing only 23 pitches. The cause was described as soreness in his right flexor mass.

Harvey, the 22nd pick in the 2013 draft, has been pitching in the New York-Penn League after undergoing sports hernia surgery in May. He moved up from the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and was making his fifth start, including his third with Aberdeen.

The flexor mass has been an issue for Harvey in the past. He was shut down at Single-A Delmarva in late July 2014 because of a strain. He missed the 2015 season after fracturing his shin on a comebacker during a spring training game in Fort Myers and later experiencing soreness in his elbow.

The Orioles were relieved to find Harvey in good health at the January minicamp and spring training, but he sustained a groin injury at Twin Lakes Park and aggravated it later, which led to sports hernia surgery after Philadelphia-based specialist Dr. William Meyer discovered a small tear.

Harvey is the son of former major league closer Bryan Harvey. He's 7-7 with a 2.82 ERA in 29 career starts in the minors.

The Orioles are expected to provide comment on the surgery before Friday night's game against the Indians at Camden Yards. Executive vice president Dan Duquette alluded to it earlier today on Buster Olney's podcast on ESPN.com.

As for today's game, Chris Tillman retired 16 of the last 17 batters and handed a 4-1 lead to Brad Brach. Jonathan Schoop delivered a two-run double with two outs in the seventh.

Tillman allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He threw 102 pitches and lowered his ERA to 3.18 in 127 1/3 innings.