Moyer plans elbow surgery but not retirement

Jamie Moyer's hopes of pitching a 25th season in the major leagues have been dealt a considerable blow. The 48-year-old free agent, who has been a Phillie since 2006, tomorrow will undergo elbow surgery that is expected to sideline him at least a year.

Moyer will undergo ulnar collateral reconstruction, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, a spokesman for the pitcher said yesterday.

A typical recovery from the procedure lasts from 12 to 18 months, meaning Moyer appears to have little shot at pitching next season.

But he apparently wants to pitch again. John Maroon, whose public relations agency works with Moyer, said the lefthander is not considering retirement. And Moyer and his wife posted a note on Facebook expressing hope for a comeback.

"It's official - Jamie is having surgery Wednesday and we are cautiously optimistic superman will make a comeback!" he and his wife wrote on the Facebook page for the Moyer Foundation, his charitable organization dedicated to helping grieving children.

The last - and perhaps only - instance of a pitcher returning from Tommy John surgery in his 40s is Mets reliever John Franco, who was 42 when he returned from the procedure in 2003. Franco went on to pitch three more seasons, although he struggled in his last two.

Moyer went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 starts for the Phillies before spraining his ulnar collateral ligament and straining his flexor pronator tendon in late-July. He attempted to rehab the injury without surgery, but suffered a setback while pitching in the Dominican Republic in November.

In 24 major league seasons, he is 267-204 with a 4.24 ERA.