Hampton out for season with bad elbow

ATLANTA, April 10 (UPI) -- Atlanta lefthander Mike Hampton will miss the 2007 season because of an injured pitching elbow.

The extent of the injury was confirmed Monday during an examination in New York by Dr. David Altchek.

"He has a torn flexor tendon," said Altchek, who was to perform Hampton's surgery Tuesday morning.

"It's disappointing because Mike has worked so hard physically and mentally to come back to pitch for us," said Braves General Manager John Schuerholz. "He wants to pitch again for us almost as bad we want him back pitching for us."

Hampton, 34, had elbow surgery nearly a year and a half ago, causing him to miss all of the 2006 season. He hasn't been healthy since May of 2005.

Hampton has a career record of 138-101 with 626 walks, 1,272 strikeouts, and a 3.97 ERA in 375 games with Seattle, Houston, the New York Mets, Colorado and Atlanta.