Bowling Green Hot Rods starting pitcher Taylor Guerrieri underwent Tommy John elbow surgery Wednesday and is expected to be out at least a year, the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times reported.

According to the Times, Guerrieri – ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization by MLB.com – saw Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday morning in Pensacola, Fla., and the decision was made to perform the surgery that afternoon.

The news hasn’t been confirmed by the Rays or the Hot Rods.

“Thanks for all the support everybody,” Guerrieri posted Wednesday on his Twitter account. “Much appreciated. Ill be back and better than ever.”

Guerrieri was placed on the disabled list Sunday before the Hot Rods’ game with Beloit (Wis.). BG manager Jared Sandberg said then that Guerrieri was at the Rays’ extended spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Fla., but declined to comment further on the hurler’s status.

Guerrieri left his last start July 15 at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) with elbow soreness after facing one batter in the third inning. It was Guerrieri’s first start since July 1 and his 14th of the season. 

The 2011 first-round selection was also chosen to play in the Futures Game on July 14 in New York, but he skipped the event at the Rays’ request. The Futures Game is an annual exhibition during the All-Star game festivities and showcases the top prospects in Minor League baseball.

Guerrieri was 6-2 with a 2.01 ERA in 67 innings of work this season. He allowed 54 hits with 51 strikeouts and 12 walks. 

Hot Rods fall 5-1 at Great Lakes

Joey Rickard drove in the lone run Wednesday for the Bowling Green Hot Rods (59-41 overall, 21-11 second half), who began their eight-game road trip with a 5-1 loss to the Great Lakes Loons (48-54, 21-11) at Dow Diamond in Midland, Mich.

With the loss, the Hot Rods fell into a first-place tie in the Eastern Division with the Loons. Tommy Coyle and Justin O’Conner both recorded two-hit games for the Hot Rods.

The Loons took the first lead of the game on a Jeremy Rathjen RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Hot Rods evened it at 1-1 when Brandon Martin scored on Rickard’s double to center field with one out in the top of the fifth inning.

But the Loons regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on James Baldwin’s bases-clearing double for a 4-1 lead. 

Bowling Green’s Ian Snell took the loss. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out six.

The series continues at 6:05 p.m. today when the Hot Rods’ Dylan Floro (7-2, 1.80) starts against the Loons’ Miguel Sulbaran (6-2, 3.20).