Right-hander Naoyuki Uwasawa will undergo surgery on his pitching elbow and will be out for about six weeks, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters announced Saturday.

The 22-year-old pitcher will have arthroscopic surgery next Wednesday to alleviate trouble from elbow synovial fold syndrome.

"I was conflicted about whether to have surgery or not, but I've decided to go ahead with it so I can perform the way I'm able," the pitcher said in a comment released by the Pacific League team.

Uwasawa went 8-8 with a 3.19 ERA in 2014, when he finished fourth in voting for the PL's Rookie of the Year Award. He was 5-6 last season with a 4.18 ERA, and pitched in just 13 games.