Ben Heller undergoes Tommy John surgery

Yankees righty Ben Heller has undergone Tommy John surgery.|Art or Photo Credit: AP

The New York Yankees announced Saturday afternoon that RHP Ben Heller has undergone Tommy John Surgery, which included removing a bone spur from his right elbow. The surgery was performed on Friday by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad, and will sideline Heller for the remainder of 2018.

Heller was optioned to Triple-A following Spring Training, but the Yankees voided that option on April 2 and placed him on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to March 27, because of the bone spur. Heller was then moved to the 60-day DL the next day, when the Yankees claimed outfielder Trayce Thompson off waivers from the Dodgers.

The 25-year-old was one of four players acquired from Cleveland in the Andrew Miller deal in July 2016. Heller has spent time in pinstripes in both 2016 and 2017, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings over 19 games, and he had a 4.15 ERA in 8 2/3 innings over seven games this spring.