Jose Ceda to undergo Tommy John surgery

The Miami Marlins farm system took a major hit today. According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel, right-handed pitcher Jose Ceda will undergo Tommy John surgery next week after being diagnosed with a severe elbow sprain.

Ceda was on his way to earning a bullpen spot this season and possibly more if he had pitched fairly decent. Of course, this all for naught as he’ll be sitting in the dugout for the entirety of the 2012 season.

Ceda was ranked eighth by Baseball Prospectus and fifteenth by Baseball America on the Marlins’ top prospects list. Last season, Ceda pitched in 36 games for Triple-A New Orleans. He saved 24 games for the Zephyrs and had a 1.36 ERA.

He was planning on making a run for the Marlins’ bullpen that already includes Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, Steven Cishek, Mike Dunn and Randy Choate. The Marlins also may include Chad Gaudin and Wade LeBlanc at their disposal.

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