After beginning the 2017 on the disabled list of the Columbia Fireflies, RHP Witt Haggard underwent Tommy John surgery this week in New York, at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He will not return to the mound until 2018.

Haggard, 25, was the Mets’ tenth-round draft pick in 2015 from Delta State University, where he played for two years after transferring from Meridian Community College. He made his professional debut with the Kingsport Mets that season, where he was largely successful, striking out 21 batters in 12.1 innings, although a rough outing in his first appearance inflated his earned run average.

Haggard was jumped to Low-A Columbia, and he became a mainstay in their bullpen. However, Haggard struggled to find consistency, as his strikeout numbers went down, while his walk rate remained around 16%. Haggard was scheduled to return to his spot in the Fireflies’ bullpen, but was immediately placed on the disabled list.

Haggard will now begin the rehab process in Port St. Lucie, a long and treacherous journey that more than a few pitchers in the organization have faced in recent years. Current pitchers on the shelf with UCL injuries include Anthony Kay, Michael Gibbons, and Josh Prevost.