Athletics injury news: Fernando Rodriguez requires Tommy John surgery

After making an early exit from his last spring training appearance, Oakland Athletics right-handed reliever Fernando Rodriguez will require Tommy John surgery, according to John Hickey of The Mercury News.

Rodriguez was removed from his most recent spring training appearance after throwing only one pitch. It was later discovered that the right-hander is set for the significant procedure which will sideline him for roughly 12 months.

Oakland acquired Rodriguez along with shortstop Jed Lowrie from the Houston Astros in exchange for catcher Max Stassi, right-hander Brad Peacock and first baseman Chris Carter. Hickey calls Rodriguez "a 28-year-old with a 95 mph fastball." As such, the right-hander was competing for one of the last available spots in the A's bullpen.

Prior to being lifted from Monday's exhibition appearance against the San Diego Padres, Rodriguez had allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts this spring.

Rodriguez made his major league debut in 2009 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he didn't make it back to the bigs until 2011 as a member of the Astros. That year he maintained a 3.96 ERA over 47 appearances for Houston. He went on to struggle last season, posting an ERA of 5.37 over 70 1/3 innings. Over parts of three years in the majors he owns a career ERA of 4.89 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.06.