Top D-back prospect Jarrod Parker to have surgery

Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect Jarrod Parker is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on October 28.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the surgery in Birmingham, Alabama.

Parker was shut down for the season in late July with hopes that rest would be good enough and he would be able to be ready for spring training.

With the Tommy John surgery being administered Parker would likely not be available for the 2010 season.

Back in early August Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes said the team was going to take a "conservative approach" with their top pitching prospect, and that with the hopes of being able to avoid surgery.

Parker was with the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate when he was shut down for the summer. He was 4-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 starts.

The Diamondbacks selected Parker with their first pick - the ninth overall - in the 2007 draft.