Garvey Will Undergo Surgery on Saturday

Steve Garvey, Padre first baseman, will undergo surgery on his left shoulder Saturday and will definitely miss the rest of the season.

Garvey underwent tests early Tuesday at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, and Dr. Paul Hirshman found what he thought he would find--a tear in the bicep tendon. Tests also showed no damage to Garvey’s rotator cuff.

“If it had been rotator cuff, my career could be over,” said Garvey, who plans on playing next season.

Hirshman, who will conduct the operation, said he plans to re-attach the damaged tendon to Garvey’s shoulder bone and may have to scrape off some of the shoulder bone.

Hirshman also said Garvey, 38, can be fully recovered in three to six months.

“But we’ve got longer and we’ll take advantage of it,” Hirshman said. “I think he has a significant chance of being able to function again without limitation. I’d rather deal with a 38-year-old (in rehabilitation) with Steve’s attitude than with some 20-year-olds I’ve seen. The good thing is that it’s his non-dominant arm. If it was his (throwing) arm, it’d be hard for a 16-year-old to come back.”