Royals reliever Tim Collins is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery on Friday

Reliever Tim Collins is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on Friday, Royals trainer Nick Kenney confirmed. The operation will be performed by Neil ElAttrache, a orthopedic surgeon at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, Calif.

Collins, a left-hander, had the same reconstructive elbow procedure last March. He was in the final months of the rehab process when the new tendon graft in his elbow failed. Collins’ first surgery was performed by James Andrews at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Alabama.

For pitchers, a second Tommy John surgery requires a longer rehab. Collins can be expected to return in 16 to 18 months.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 8:28 PM with the headline "Royals reliever Tim Collins is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery on Friday."