PITTSBURGH -- For the second time in seven years, Pirates reliever Tyler Yates will have a season ended by Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. The right-handed pitcher underwent successful surgery Tuesday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala., and will miss the rest of the season. Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure, which was done to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Yates is expected to return to a throwing program in five to six months. "There was no other option," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "The ligament showed as torn, and the reality is either he has surgery or he doesn't pitch again." Yates also had Tommy John surgery in 2002 when he was in the Minor Leagues with the Mets organization. The right-hander's injury troubles continued in 2005, when he missed the whole season following rotator cuff surgery. Yates, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 16, will head back to Bradenton, Fla., to continue rehabbing. The surgery comes a few weeks after the righty had been throwing in Bradenton. Huntington said that the reliever had been pain-free since resuming the throwing program in late June after a setback earlier that month. Huntington said the tear was discovered after a new set of tests by Andrews. The 6-foot-4 reliever was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA this season. Appearing in 15 games, Yates had nine strikeouts in 12 innings, but also gave up 14 hits, including two home runs. Yates last pitched for the Pirates on May 15, going two-thirds of an inning against the Rockies. --

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