Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero to miss rest of season due to knee surgery

Toronto Blue Jays Ricky Romero pitches at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. on February 22, 2014. After two disastrous seasons, Ricky Romero is turning heads for the right reasons at Blue Jays' spring training. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Former Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero will miss the remainder of the season following knee surgery.

Romero, who plays for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons, had surgery Tuesday on his left knee to clean out quadriceps tendon inflammation. He's expected to miss six months.

The 29-year-old lefty is 0-3 with a 5.50 earned-run average in nine starts with Buffalo this season.

Romero, drafted sixth overall by Toronto in 2005, was the Jays' ace in 2011 with a career-best 15-11 record and a 2.92 ERA. But his performance dropped off the next season to 9-14 and a 5.77 ERA.

Following that, Romero was sent down to the minors where he has struggled to regain his form.