Eflin will undergo surgery Friday to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee and is expected to require 6-to-8 months of recovery time, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The Phillies transferred Eflin from the COVID-19 injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The procedure is Eflin's second on the knee in less than five years, which could prompt the Phillies to take a cautious approach with him over the winter and spring before a firmer target date for his 2022 debut is established. Regardless, the 6-to-8-month window means that Eflin will more than likely open the upcoming campaign on the shelf. Before he was shut down Aug. 27 due to the knee injury and MLB's health and safety protocols for COVID-19, Eflin submitted a 4-7 record, 4.17 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over his 18 starts.