D.C. United today announced that midfielder Chris Pontius has undergone surgery on his left hamstring. Dr. Michael Gerhardt of Santa Monica Orthopaedics, and team physician for U.S. Soccer’s Men’s National Team, performed the surgery in Santa Monica, Calif. He is expected to miss 4-6 months.

Pontius was selected with the seventh overall pick of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is now United’s longest tenured player. In his rookie season, the dynamic midfielder played in 28 games (23 starts) and recorded four goals and three assists en route to being named a MLS Rookie of the Year finalist. After suffering season-ending injuries in 2010 and 2011, Pontius set highs in 2012 in goals (12), games played (31), games started (26), minutes (2,339), shots (71) and shots on goal (29). Six of Pontius’ 12 goals that season were game-winners, tied for the club record set in 1996 by Steve Rammel and tied for third in MLS in 2012. For his career year in 2012, he was named MLS Best XI, MLS Comeback Player of the Year finalist, MLS All-Star, MLS All-Star MVP, D.C. United Volkswagen MVP, D.C. United Volkswagen Fan’s Choice, D.C. United Volkswagen Golden Boot and D.C. United Goal of the Year. He fought through injuries during the 2013 season, but helped D.C. United to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. In total, he has played in 123 games (106 starts) and recorded 27 goals and 16 assists.