N.J.'s Jason Groome, top Red Sox prospect, to undergo Tommy John Surgery

Former Barnegat High standout and top Red Sox pitching prospect Jason Groome will undergo Tommy John Surgery.

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect and New Jersey native Jason Groome will undergo Tommy John Surgery to reconstruct his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team announced on Wednesday.

The No. 12 pick of the 2016 MLB Draft and former Barnegat High standout had not pitched during the 2018 season, and the surgery will sideline him until at least 2019.

The 6-6, 220-pound left hander was slated to begin the season in Low-A Greenville, but he opened the season on the disabled list with what was called a minor flex strain.

Despite a rocky first full season in the minors in 2017, the 19-year-old Groome was named the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox organization in January by Baseball Prospectus. He was named the No. 29 prospect in all of baseball.

At two different levels of A-ball in 2017, Groome went 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 72 batters in 55.1 innings, but he also walked 30.

Groome signed a $3.65 million deal with the Red Sox in July of 2016 to turn pro just before his 18th birthday.

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