Braves reliever Jonny Venters undergoes second Tommy John surgery

Braves reliever Jonny Venters underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in eight years. (Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Braves reliever Jonny Venters underwent a second Tommy John surgery on Thursday afternoon, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Venters had the ligament transplant surgery on his pitching elbow once before in 2005. He will miss the rest of the 2013 season and at least part of 2014.

From the Atlanta-Journal Constitution report:

Venters had hoped to avoid surgery after having a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow April 2 and resting for four weeks. When he began throwing again two weeks ago on flat ground, he was encouraged. But once he started throwing when off the mound, the soreness returned.

Pitchers are typically able to come back 12 months after the first surgery; those who need a second surgery often need around 18 months before they can return.