ATLANTA -- Ian Anderson’s recent mound struggles suddenly made a lot more sense this week when the Braves right-hander learned he needed Tommy John surgery, and the team announced on Thursday that he underwent the season-ending surgery on his right elbow.

Pitchers who undergo Tommy John surgery usually require 12-18 months of recovery, putting the 24-year-old Anderson on track to return at some point during the 2024 season. Anderson's procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas.

"This probably answers questions, more so for Ian, because it wasn't something he did or didn't do," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's just one of those things that happens. It's the life of the pitcher."

Anderson didn't tell the Braves his elbow was hurting before last week. But his rapid decline over the past year creates reason to wonder how long he might have been physically limited.

Anderson established himself as a postseason hero in 2021 and then struggled to the point where he was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett for last season’s final two months. The right-hander’s comeback bid was halted when a few disappointing Grapefruit League appearances led him to be sent to Minor League camp with two weeks remaining in Spring Training this year.

The Braves placed Anderson on Gwinnett’s injured list after he allowed three homers and recorded just two outs while facing nine batters during his April 2 start against Jacksonville.  

Anderson tasted immediate success when he reached the Majors during the shortened 2020 season, and he continued to impress during a 2021 season, highlighted with five scoreless innings in Game 3 of the World Series against the Astros.

All signs pointed to Anderson continuing to live up to the hype of being a No. 3 overall Draft pick by the Braves in 2016. He has a 1.26 ERA through eight career postseason starts. The only other pitchers with a sub 1.50 ERA with at least eight playoff starts are Christy Mathewson (0.97) and Stephen Strasburg (1.46).

Anderson posted a 3.25 ERA over 30 regular-season starts between 2020 and ’21 but posted a 5.00 ERA in the 22 starts he made for Atlanta last year. His bid to right himself this spring was unsuccessful, as he issued eight walks and allowed six runs (five earned) over 7 1/3 Grapefruit League innings (three appearances).