Twins’ Alex Kirilloff Needs Tommy John Surgery

Alex Kirilloff —the Twins’ No. 3 prospect—will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2017 season, the team said Wednesday.

The 19-year-old outfielder, taken 15th overall out of Pittsburgh’s Plum High last June, was named the Rookie-level Appalachian League MVP in his first taste of pro ball. He hit .306/.341/.454 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 55 games with Rookie-level Elizabethton in his pro debut.

Kirilloff was shut down for the season on Aug. 28 of last year for what was originally described as elbow inflammation but was later revealed to be a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection during the offseason in hopes of avoiding surgery, but the pain in his elbow returned once he reported to minor league camp.

He is scheduled to have the surgery on his left (throwing) elbow on March 8 and expectd to miss nine months.

Kirilloff, who was committed to Liberty, signed for a $2,817,100 bonus.