A's reliever Joey Devine to have elbow surgery

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Oakland Athletics right-hander Joey Devine will undergo a second surgery on his troublesome pitching elbow on Tuesday, yet another setback for the reliever who already started the season on the disabled list because of biceps tendinitis.

The 28-year-old Devine was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews, who will perform the surgery in Pensacola, Fla., and also handled his first operation. Devine underwent "Tommy John'' reconstructive surgery in April 2009 and recently began experiencing more problems. Manager Bob Melvin said last week that Devine would be shut down indefinitely. The A's said they would provide more details after Tuesday's procedure, and Melvin said he had no further details following a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals late Monday.

Devine went 6-1 with a 0.59 ERA in 42 outings in 2008 during his first year with the A's, then has struggled with injuries ever since. After missing 2010 recovering from the initial elbow surgery, he briefly came back last season to go 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 26 appearances and 23 innings.

"I don't know what the surgery entails,'' Melvin said. "To get back and pitch as well as he did last year for a stint, he was as effective a pitcher as we had in the bullpen ... it really looked like he was back to form last year, then later on in the season obviously it didn't work out for him and now he has to go have surgery. It's very disappointing certainly for him but also for us.''

This could jeopardize Devine's season - but he hopes not his entire career, saying last week he is determined to come back and pitch again in the majors even if it means another long haul of rehabilitation.

"That's a bummer, that's hard to hear,'' starting pitcher Tommy Milone said of Devine. "A guy like that, such a great guy, obviously you don't want to hear that, but if it gets him back quicker than waiting it out, then so be it. Obviously nobody wants to hear that.''