Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Scott Baker will miss the entire 2012 season to undergo elbow surgery in his pitching arm, the Twins announced on Wednesday.

“It’s a battle, but it’s a losing battle,” Baker said about his elbow. “I did everything I could to try and pitch through it.”

Baker, 30, will have his flexor pronator tendon repaired and rehab is expected to take six months. He had an MRI on the elbow last week, which didn’t show any serious injury.

The right-hander pitched 134 2/3 innings last year, posting a 3.14 ERA and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The Twins signed Baker to an extension before the 2009 season and is set to earn $6.5 million in 2012.

Baker has had his season cut short in the last two years due to injuries – this one hurts the Twins a little more as he was expected to be one of the team’s top pitchers.