Hurst Has Torn Rotator Cuff, Cartilage Repaired

The Padres, who already were concerned with their starting rotation for 1993, learned Tuesday that veteran starter Bruce Hurst’s status could be jeopardized.

Hurst underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala., in which a torn rotator cuff and torn cartilage were discovered.

Dr. James Andrews repaired both of the tears in a one-hour surgery, and shaved the rotator cuff.

Hurst will begin rehabilitative therapy Thursday at Scripps Clinic, and the Padres are hopeful that Hurst can be ready by spring training.

Hurst, 14-9 with a 3.85 ERA in 1992, was bothered most of the season by what was diagnosed as an inflamed rotator cuff. The pain worsened the final six weeks of the season. He won his last game Sept. 2, and missed his last two starts.

Although surgery was recommended, the Padres were hoping it would be only to clean out the rotator cuff area. No one realized Hurst was pitching with a torn rotator cuff.

The surgery most likely means that the Padres will be unable to trade Hurst before the 1993 season. The Padres were attempting to unload Hurst’s contract, which will pay him $2.75 million in 1993 with a $3-million option in 1994.

Hurst, 34, who never before experienced shoulder problems, is the only active pitcher in the major leagues to have won at least 10 games in each of the past 10 seasons.

In other news, Tim Flannery, one of the popular players in Padre history, will rejoin the Padres as manager of their short-season Class-A Spokane team. He’ll be a roving minor-league instructor until June, when Spokane’s season opens.

“It was something I always wanted to do, and something I believe I’ll be good at,” said Flannery, who spent the three years since retiring as a Channel 8 reporter. “The last couple of months I woke up in the middle of night with my body twitching, wanting to get back in baseball.

“I thought I’d like it, but I had no idea I’d be loving it.”

Flannery has been working as an instructor at the Arizona Instructional League since the conclusion of the Padres’ season.