Mike Schmidt said he will refuse to...

Mike Schmidt said he will refuse to undergo surgery for a tear in his right rotator cuff, preferring to recuperate on his own terms.

The Philadelphia Phillies third baseman is scheduled for a test today to determine whether an operation is necessary.

“If they tell me I need surgery, I won’t accept that,” he said. “I’ll rest it, do exercises, do my best to heal it over the winter and hope to get it doubly strong so I can carry the load.”

Club physician Phillip Marone, who examined Schmidt last week, said the 38-year-old suffered at least a partial tear of his rotator cuff. If the arthrogram shows a full tear, he said, Schmidt would have to undergo corrective surgery if he wanted to continue his career.