Kansas City Royals closer Joakin Soria will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery and miss the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the team said on Friday.

The two-time All-Star, who also missed the 2003 MLB season while recovering from a similar operation, left Sunday's spring training game against Cleveland after experiencing pain in his right elbow.

Soria, 27, posted a 5-5 record in 2011 while appearing in 60 games. He had 28 saves.