CHAMPAIGN -- Bryan Roberts, who produced one of the finest seasons by a relief pitcher in Illinois baseball history last spring, is expected to miss the entire 2011 campaign.
The right-hander underwent ligament-replacement surgery - the so-called Tommy John procedure - on his throwing elbow on June 22. It typically takes a year for a pitcher to be able to return to competition following the surgery.
Roberts, a junior-to-be, can apply for a medical redshirt in order to retain his remaining two seasons of eligibility.
"Right now, I'm in a sling," the Lisle native said Monday during a phone interview. "I'll eventually move to a brace and when I get out of that I'll do as much hard work as I can and stay in shape and hopefully find a summer league to play in (next year) and get ready for 2012."
Roberts recorded nine saves last season despite elbow problems that first arose during winter training. He said doctors believe the elbow injury - which included a stress fracture as well as a ligament tear - might be related to shoulder pain Roberts experienced during fall practice.
"They think I might have been compensating for the shoulder (while throwing)," he said.
During the season, Roberts was kept on a strict pitch count in each of his 21 appearances in order to manage the elbow problem, which he said ranged from discomfort to pain depending on how frequently he appeared during weekend Big Ten series.
"It was a little bit of both," Roberts said. "Usually on Fridays I would be fresh. When I had to throw (again) on Saturday or Sunday, then it would be a little painful.
"When I was on the mound, the adrenaline would kick in. Between innings, there would be some stiffness or a little pain. Mostly, it was uncomfortable or tight."
Although Roberts was told by his doctor that he could put off surgery, he likely would have faced the same limitations in 2011 as he did in this spring.
"I wouldn't be able to do as much as I would want to do for the team," he said.
Eventually, Roberts' doctor said, he would need to undergo the Tommy John procedure.
Illini coach Dan Hartleb said a decision to delay surgery could have put Roberts' future pro prospects at risk. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder will be eligible for Major League Baseball's first-year player draft next year, although it's unlikely he would be drafted any earlier than 2012.
"We could have milked him through next year and he could have pitched," Hartleb said. "But he has pro potential, and (surgery now) was the right thing for him to do long term.
"We talked about it, and he agreed with it. I really think he has pro potential. It would have been very selfish for us to have him pitch next year and risk his draft status and his bargaining power."
Roberts, who made 10 starts as a freshman en route to a 5-4 record, excelled after making the elbow injury-induced transition to the bullpen. His nine saves tied for second on the all-time UI single-season list and were the most by an Illini since 1989, when Jeff Richards set the school record with 13.
Roberts also tied for fourth in the Big Ten in saves while going 2-1 with a team-best 3.90 ERA. He struck out 29 batters in 272/3 innings while holding opponents to a .210 batting average.
Hartleb said it was far too early to speculate on candidates to fill the closer's role in 2011. He said that decision will be made after the starting rotation is determined. Then, bullpen roles will be sorted out from the remaining pool of pitchers.
"We'll see if somebody pops up (for the closer's spot) as we move forward into the fall and winter," Hartleb said. "We've got some guys with good arms. We'll see how things unfold. We have a lot of time (to decide)."
Roberts isn't the only Illini pitcher who will miss next season due to an elbow injury. Hartleb said Rob McDonnell, an incoming freshman from Barrington, is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery this week. The left-hander suffered a season-ending injury in May.