Lance McCullers Jr. pitches for the Houston Astros during a game in 2015. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Houston Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. — a former Quad Cities hurler — underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Tuesday and is expected to miss the entire 2019 season as he recovers.

He went 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA, 142 strikeouts and 50 walks in 128.1 innings (25 games/22 starts) for the Astros this season, mostly before his stint on the disabled list from August 5 to September 24. He also made five relief appearances in the postseason this year, giving up one run in five innings.

McCullers spent the 2013 season in the Midwest League. He went 6-5 with a 3.18 ERA, 117 strikeouts and 49 walks in 104.2 innings (25 games/19 starts) for the River Bandits during the regular season. Quad Cities won the MWL Championship Series that year.