Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Since the season began back in April, there was a possibility that San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto could be lost for the injury-marred season and more due to right elbow surgery.

Well, tomorrow in Los Angeles, Cueto will undergo Tommy John surgery and will be lost for the remainder of the 2018 season. Cueto could be back on the mound late during the 2019 season.

“If there’s anything we know about Johnny, it’s that he’s a hard worker,” said Giants general manager Bobby Evans.

Cueto is the second Giants pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery in two seasons, as closer Will Smith also underwent the surgical procedure on March 30, 2017 and did not pitch in his first Major League game this season until May 2.

Giants pitcher Chris Stratton will take Cueto’s spot in the starting rotation. Stratton is 8-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 18 starts this season, before he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on July 7.

Cueto ended the 2018 season with a 3-2 record with a 3.23 ERA. He was placed on the disabled list on Sunday with a right elbow sprain.