Dodgers’ top draft pick, Walker Buehler, to have Tommy John surgery

Right-hander Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ top pick in last June’s draft, will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday and is unlikely to throw his first professional pitch until 2017, the team said before Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a six-game Pennsylvania trip.

General Manager Farhan Zaidi said the Dodgers, like other teams, had questions about Buehler’s arm before they selected him with the 24th overall pick in the first round. But the team was unable to do a complete physical examination until after the draft.

And when they did, the Dodgers found more damage than they expected.

“It was no certain thing when we drafted him that he would need it,” Zaidi said of the reconstructive elbow procedure, which will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. “[But] after consultation with him, getting the surgery was probably the best thing for him long term.”

Because of the questions about his arm, the Dodgers gave Buehler, a 21-year-old from Vanderbilt, a $1.78-million bonus, about $300,000 less than value for the 24th pick in the first round. But Zaidi said the team has no regrets.

“So as far as signing him, we still think he is one of the top pitching talents in the draft,” he said. “We have the luxury of being able to play the long game. Even if it puts him a year behind, we think when he comes back he’s going to justify where we selected him. Obviously we signed him for a reduced number that allowed us to do some other things in the draft.”

The Dodgers also had trouble with their second pick in the draft, failing to come to terms with right-hander Kyle Funkhouser, the 35th overall pick, who will return to college.

Ellis back, Turner coming?

The Dodgers reinstated catcher A.J. Ellis from the disabled list Tuesday, optioning catcher Austin Barnes to triple-A Oklahoma City. And the team is hopeful it will get infielder Justin Turner back when he is eligible to return from the disabled list next week.

Ellis was sidelined with right knee inflammation, but Turner’s situation is a bit more unusual. The Dodgers’ leading hitter with a .323 average, Turner was placed on the DL, retroactive to July 27, with a skin infection on his right thigh that required a trip to a hospital emergency room.

Manager Don Mattingly said the infection is healing but there is no timetable for Turner to resume baseball activities. Mattingly said Turner is at the team’s training complex in Arizona getting treatment. He is eligible for reinstatement Tuesday.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

Twitter: @kbaxter11