Shoulder surgery for Astros' Bagwell

By wire services
Published May 16, 2005

HOUSTON - Jeff Bagwell is scheduled for surgery on his arthritic right shoulder early next month in hopes of prolonging a career that has been derailed by pain.

The Astros first baseman has been out since May 3. He was placed on the disabled list Tuesday for the first time in seven seasons because of the degenerative shoulder condition that will require surgery, the team said Sunday.

"To be honest, I'm excited about it," Bagwell said. "I want to show myself and the organization that I can still play. I really believe it will work. This is my best opportunity to play again.

"It has been tough on me not playing, but it got to where it wasn't getting any better and I'm at a point where I can't do it."

The procedure is called an arthroscopic capsular release. Rehabilitation is expected to last three months.

"This is a last-chance effort to salvage his playing career," team doctor David Lintner , who will assist in surgery, said.

Bagwell, who turns 37 this month, has been bothered by pain in the shoulder for four years and had surgery Oct. 26, 2001. There has been speculation that the pain would force him to retire.

"The scary part is thinking that my career might be over," Bagwell said. "I'm not going to help anybody the way I am. I have to do it. It is the only way I can continue to play."

He missed just 12 games over the past three seasons despite the shoulder problem.

After hitting 30 or more homers in eight straight seasons, Bagwell dropped to 27 in 2004. He is batting .250 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 24 games for the Astros, who rank last in the NL in hits and homers.

"I know I'm on the downside of my career," he said.

Bagwell hoped to rejoin the lineup May 9 at Florida when he warmed up before the game. But instead went on the disabled list the next day, retroactive to May 4.

He has been on the disabled list only two other times in 15 seasons, most recently in May 1998 because of a knee injury.

"Hopefully, we will have him back for the last month of the season," general manager Tim Purpura said.

BRAVES: Left-hander Mike Hampton left Saturday's game at Los Angeles in the third inning because of tightness in his left forearm. "It was a spasm-type thing," manager Bobby Cox said. "It just tightened up. His whole forearm was just hard as a rock. He had the same thing last year at one time, and it took him a little while to get it going again. But he should be perfectly okay for his next start - we think. He was smart enough to know when to shut it off."

NATIONALS: Right-hander Livan Hernandez left Saturday's game against the Cubs in the seventh inning because of a right knee injury.

PIRATES: Ian Snell threw a no-hitter, striking out nine and walking one for the team's Triple-A team in Indianapolis.

RANGERS: Steve Karsay signed a minor-league deal, three days after the Yankees released the multimillion-dollar reliever. Karsay appeared in just 13 games during the past two seasons.

ROCKIES: Centerfielder Preston Wilson is available but Colorado expects the team he is traded to to pick up a chunk of his $12-million salary.

TIGERS: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez left against the Angels in the third inning after bruising the big toe on his left foot. X-rays were negative.

WHITE SOX: Slugger Frank Thomas , recovering from offseason surgery on his left ankle, will begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. He played only 74 games last year and has not played this season after a partial stress fracture of a bone in his left ankle.

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 01:22:06]