It's been a rough 2021 for Zack Britton, and it has now effectively come to an end.

The lefty reliever has opted to have surgery on a bone chip in his left elbow, while doctors will also take a look at his UCL to see if Tommy John surgery is required.

"I’ve been playing a long time and have been fortunate not to have injuries," Britton said to reporters on Tuesday. "I just view it as kind of another chapter of my career where I get an opportunity to use these months that I have to make myself better as I get back with the team. As you get older, you always look for new ways to improve, and I’ll have some time to do that and hopefully be better for that when I come back."

"It’s disappointing to end this way," he added.

Britton plans to stay around the team before the operation, and try to go back to New York to stay with the team and rehab.

This wasn't the first injury Britton had this year - nor will it even be his first bone chip surgery, something he had undergone in March. Britton was on the injured list with a hamstring strain frim June 26 to July 15, and had COVID-19 in January.

In 22 games, Britton has a 5.89 ERA this year, allowing 12 earned runs in 18.1 innings - he has three blown saves in four opportunities, and has allowed at least one run in half of his outings, and 11 of his last 19.

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