From Yips To Snips

The Dodgers' Taiwanese phenom Hong-Chih Kuo, an All-Star in 2010 but ineffective and plagued by the yips in 2011, is now slated for another round of surgery.

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers reliever Hong-Chih Kuo will undergo a fifth operation on his left elbow on Friday.

Kuo, an All-Star in 2010 but plagued by anxiety disorder in 2011, will have a loose body removed arthroscopically by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. It is estimated that he will be able to resume throwing in six to eight weeks.

Kuo developed soreness this week just before he was scheduled to leave and pitch for the Taiwan National Team in a five-game exhibition series against a Major League All-Star team.

The injury is just the latest in the saga of the 30-year-old, who has been in the organization longer than anyone else on the roster. He's survived five Dodgers managers, five general managers and two owners.

Signed out of Taiwan at age 17, he struck out seven of the first 10 batters in his professional debut and also blew out his elbow, leading to the first of two Tommy John operations. After his second operation, he had to be talked out of retirement by teammates Darren Dreifort and Eric Gagne and Acey Kohrogi, executive director of Asian operations. His most recent operation was in 2007 for bone chips.

Good luck, Hunchy!