Phillies 2016 second round pick Kevin Gowdy undergoes Tommy John surgery

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor

Philadelphia Phillies second round pick Kevin Gowdy was sidelined to start the season with biceps tendinitis, but things never got better and the 19-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery this week. Normal recovery time from the operation is anywhere from 12-16 months.

Gowdy pitched in four games last season for the GCL Phillies, going 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA, striking out nine and walking two. Although Phillies scouts were excited about his talented arm in Spring Training this year, Gowdy was never assigned to a team out of exhibition play because of his biceps tendinitis. Eventually, his issues led to the operation. The surgery rules out any hope for a return in 2017 and it looks like the soon-to-be 20-year-old will miss the majority of the 2018 season as well.

The Phillies used the 42nd overall pick in 2016 to select Gowdy out of Santa Barbara High School and signed him to a $3.5 million signing bonus.