Fukuoka Softbank Hawks right-hander Brian Wolfe will undergo elbow surgery and will miss the rest of the season, the Pacific League announced Saturday.
Wolfe, who is 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA in eight games, suffered damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery to replace the damaged ligament. It will take the 33-year-old from 12 to 14 months to recover.
"Both the pitcher and the team are satisfied that this is the best way to proceed," said Itaru Kobayashi, the club's deputy director of operations. "That's because we will have him (under contract) for another year."
Wolfe, who has already returned to the United States, is in his first season with Softbank after four years with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. He has a career 39-31 record with three saves and a 3.09 ERA.