Sheffield Tries a New Remedy: No Surgery

Already focusing on next season, Dodger outfielder Gary Sheffield has decided against undergoing surgery again on his left shoulder.

Instead, the all-star left fielder said Sunday he will continue the rehabilitation program he began two weeks ago at the International Performance Institute in Bradenton, Fla. Sheffield said the sports-medicine specialists there have helped him, adding that he will be ready in February when the Dodgers begin spring training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

“I’m not getting any more surgery,” said Sheffield, slowed during the previous spring training after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage damage. “I’m not going to mess around with that this year after everything I went through last year. Everything that I’d have to go through doesn’t make it worth it because I need to be ready when spring training starts.

“I couldn’t work out [after the last procedure], and I got to camp out of shape. I had all that weight on me and I thought I would just work it off, but it took a long time. I want to be ready to go when I get to camp, so this is the best thing to help me do that.”

Sheffield has been undergoing hours of intense physical therapy daily at the institute on the grounds of the Bollettieri Sports Academy. The goal is to strengthen Sheffield’s shoulder and alleviate the pain the five-time all-star endured throughout the 1999 season.

“It already feels a lot better just after a little while,” Sheffield said. “They’re doing a good job and they’re focusing on my shoulder, but they’ve also been working on everything else.

“They’ve been working on my knee, my hip, my ankles, everything each day. I’m getting a good rehab all over.”

A Dodger spokesman said Sunday that the organization supports Sheffield’s decision, and is encouraged by his apparent progress.

Despite his pain, Sheffield batted .301 with 34 home runs, 101 runs batted in and a team-high 103 runs. He represented the ballclub at the 1999 All-Star game at Fenway Park.

He had planned to undergo surgery on his shoulder shortly after the Dodgers’ disastrous season ended, but sought other options because of the difficult post-procedure rehabilitation process.

“I just want to be able to work out in the off-season, and what I’m doing here will help me go to spring training in good shape,” Sheffield said. “I really don’t need surgery with the stuff I’m doing here. All I need is to keep doing this workout, and I’ll be OK.”