Ross Stripling has elbow surgery as prelude to Tommy John surgery

This doesn’t sound like the ideal way to go. Right-hander Ross Stripling has had surgery before his surgery.

The Dodgers announced Wednesday that Stripling had successful surgery, but not the Tommy John procedure they said he would have. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his inflamed elbow.

The Dodgers said the plan is to wait for the inflammation to subside, for Stripling to get his range of motion back and then to have the Tommy John tendon transfer surgery.

There must have been quite a bit of inflammation in the elbow of the 24-year-old for him to have a surgery as prelude to surgery.

Stripling went a combined 8-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 27 starts at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and double-A Chattanooga last season and was a prospect on the rise.

The arthroscopic surgery will push back his overall recovery period, but as of now the Dodgers have yet to set a timetable for his return next season.