C.J. Wilson to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery
Left-hander C.J. Wilson will soon undergo season-ending surgery to repair fraying within his labrum and rotator cuff.
The 35-year-old visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion on his problematic left shoulder last week and has since been gathering information from various surgeons, he said in a text message.
“I plan on pitching again, and with surgery can move forward toward that,” Wilson wrote.
Wilson (51-35 with a 3.87 earned-run average with the Angels) will turn 36 in November and become a free agent. He signed a five-year, $77.5-million contract with the Angels in December 2011, coming off a career year, and pitched reliably for the deal’s first two seasons.
He then pitched through pain in 2014 and struggled. Last year, he did well early before his effectiveness waned and he opted to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. He said he developed nerve damage during the season.
Scioscia said before Tuesday’s game that Wilson was “leaning toward” having the surgery. Asked to offer a retrospective on the player’s career as an Angel, he declined, stating the decision was not final.
“C.J. got close to pitching there, and you always get your hopes up,” Scioscia said. “But as of right now, he hasn’t been able to get healthy.”
In spring training, Wilson said he was reinventing his delivery out of necessity, pain forcing him to find a new throwing motion. It worked to a degree; he made one start on rehab assignment in May.
But the pain continued, and he determined surgery was his best long-term option.
Twitter: @pedromoura
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