Royals' Collins has season-ending Tommy John surgery

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Kansas City Royals left-hander Tim Collins has undergone season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Kansas City said Thursday the 25-year-old was operated on a day earlier by Dr. James Andrews, who repaired ligament damage in Collins' left elbow.

Collins made his spring training debut against Texas on March 4 and left after two outs.

''Timmy threw a curveball, and that's when he first started feeling it,'' manager Ned Yost said at the time. ''Then he threw seven or pitches after and it kept getting tighter.''

Collins had a MRI that revealed ligament damage.

He topped AL relievers with 93 strikeouts in 2012, but a left flexor strain last April put him on the disabled list for a month. He went 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 regular-season games and had a 3.18 ERA in four postseason games, including three World Series appearances.

Collins out, Brian Flynn, Franklin Morales and Brandon Finnegan are the leading left-handed relief candidates.