McPherson Opts for Surgery on Hip

Dallas McPherson gave his injured left hip one more try this week, going to the gym for a workout that included jogging and lunges, but when the pain and discomfort continued, the third baseman knew what little hopes he had of returning this season were dashed.

McPherson will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday in Nashville to have the bone spur in his hip shaved down and cartilage removed. Recovery time for the procedure, to be performed by Tennessee Titan team physician and hip specialist Thomas Byrd, is three to four months.

“I knew if it wasn’t any better after 1 1/2 weeks of rest, the chances of playing weren’t good,” McPherson said by phone from Southern California. “I’d be limited to pinch-hitting, so I wouldn’t be doing the team any good. With a 12- to 16-week rehabilitation, I didn’t want to put surgery off any longer.”

As disappointing as this season has been -- injuries have limited McPherson, who is batting .244 with eight home runs and 26 runs batted in, to 61 games -- the rookie can take comfort in knowing that several baseball players, including Florida’s Luis Castillo, and hockey players have come back from similar hip surgeries.

McPherson is expected to return to full strength before spring training begins next February.

“It’s been tough to watch the games every night and not be able to help the team, but injuries are part of the game,” McPherson said. “I feel confident I’ll be 100% for next year.”

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Orlando Cabrera’s errant throw to first base on Joey Gathright’s chopper over the mound in the second inning Friday night was the Angel shortstop’s first error since June 14, when he committed two against the Washington Nationals.

That ended a string of 42 games without an error for Cabrera, who was forced to rush his throw because of Gathright’s speed. The ball sailed over first baseman Darin Erstad’s head and into the Devil Ray dugout, allowing Tampa Bay to put runners on second and third, but Julio Lugo flied out to end the inning.

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Angel shortstop prospect Brandon Wood, who leads all minor leagues with 41 home runs and 48 doubles, was named most valuable player of the Class-A California League on Friday.

Wood, the first Rancho Cucamonga player to be honored as league MVP, is batting .322 with 102 runs and 112 RBIs in 123 games. He is one homer shy of the Angels’ minor league single-season record of 42, set by San Jose’s Dick Simpson in 1962.

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Second baseman Adam Kennedy, who started the Angels’ previous 20 games, was not in Friday night’s lineup against left-hander Casey Fossum. “It’s just a day off,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.