Blyleven Has Surgery, Is Out for the Season
Angel right-hander Bert Blyleven underwent his second shoulder operation in less than a year Tuesday and will require at least nine months of rehabilitation, the team said.
The surgery began as an arthroscopic procedure, but orthopedists Lewis Yocum and Frank Jobe discovered that Blyleven, 40, had suffered further tearing in his right rotator cuff since an operation last fall.
The doctors repaired the tear and the pitcher is expected to be discharged from Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood Thursday.
The Angels said Blyleven’s rehabilitation program will last from nine months to one year.
Blyleven appeared in only 23 games last season after straining the shoulder. He was 8-7 with a 5.24 earned-run average before being placed on the disabled list in August.
He underwent surgery Oct. 1, 1990.
Voted the American League’s 1989 comeback player of the year, Blyleven was 17-5 with a 2.73 ERA in his first season with the Angels. During his 21-year career, he has also pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.
His contract runs through this season with options for 1992 and 1993.
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