Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez to undergo Tommy John surgery

Vazquez is out for the season.

Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is set to miss the entire 2015 season, the team announced on Wednesday. 

Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery in Florida on Thursday, the team said. 

Vazquez was slated to start the regular season as Boston's starting catcher. Since the Red Sox selected him in the ninth round of the 2008 MLB draft, Vazquez has bounced around the minor leagues, most recently playing for Red Sox Triple A affiliate Pawtucket in 2014.

This spring, Vazquez batted .176 in six games, recording three hits in 17 at-bats. Last season, he batted .279 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 66 games for Pawtucket. 

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With Vazquez out for the foreseeable future, Ryan Hanigan will start at catcher for the Red Sox on Opening Day, according to ESPN. 

Christian Vazquez will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow tomorrow in Pensacola, FL. Dr James Andrews will perform the procedure.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 1, 2015

- Stanley Kay