BOSTON -- Eleven days after the Red Sox revealed that Chris Sale needed Tommy John surgery, the left-hander underwent the procedure in Los Angeles on Monday, and the club announced it was a success.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles.

The Red Sox and Sale were both mindful of the coronavirus pandemic while setting up the logistics of the surgery.

¡°Needless to say, these are not normal times,¡± said Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. ¡°As a society, we are facing some difficult challenges. We knew that to schedule this or any surgery right now would not be routine, that there might be scheduling or logistical difficulties.

¡°As I said earlier this month, it was important to all of us to do this in a way that would not place any undo burden on anyone suffering because of the coronavirus. I spoke to Dr. ElAttrache personally to make sure that was the case here, and he was just as mindful of the many considerations that go along with surgery at a time like this. We are obviously appreciative that he was able to do the procedure but also that he took the time to discuss those considerations with us.¡±

Sale -- who turned 31 on Monday -- will miss the entire 2020 season, and a best-case scenario would have him return around June of ¡¯21.

¡°We don¡¯t know exactly,¡± Bloom said. ¡°Typically, give or take, around that 14-month range for a typical Tommy John. Some guys come back quicker. Some guys take a little longer, obviously depending on how the rehab proceeds and if there are any bumps in the road that they encounter. Typically that 14-month range or so is where it lands.¡±

¡°Chris will return to Florida soon to begin his rehab for the long process, but we know how driven he is to do it right. We¡¯re eager to see him on the Fenway mound again when it¡¯s time.¡±

It is unclear when the season will start. But when it does, Eduardo Rodriguez figures to be the ace of a Boston rotation that will also include Nathan Eovaldi, Mart¨ªn P¨¦rez and Ryan Weber.

Right-hander Collin McHugh could be in the mix as well, but his time-table is uncertain as he recovers from a flexor strain from last season.

The Red Sox are also contemplating using an opener for the final spot in the rotation.

¡°Of course we want to do everything we can to compete this season, and we still have that outlook,¡± Bloom said. ¡°But we need to make sure that we¡¯re viewing the big picture as well. What that¡¯s going to mean as we go forward, it¡¯s hard to say anything specific, but needless to say, losing Chris for 2020 is not going to make our task any easier.

¡°It is going to create some opportunities for some guys to step up and you never know what¡¯s going to happen with that, especially with the added uncertainty that surrounds this season generally, but it¡¯s not going to make this any easier.¡±

In three seasons with the Red Sox, Sale is 35-23 with a 3.08 ERA in 84 starts. He has covered 519 2/3 innings in that time, notching 763 strikeouts.

Sale is signed with the Red Sox through the 2024 season.