Red Sox Coach Wallace Is Sidelined

Boston Red Sox pitching coach Dave Wallace underwent hip surgery after developing an infection and is expected to be sidelined at least several months of the regular season.

The 58-year-old Wallace, formerly the Dodgers’ pitching coach, was in stable condition at Massachusetts General Hospital after the operation Thursday.

He developed the right hip infection about three weeks ago during his drive south for the start of spring training. The infection was related to a hip replacement he had a decade ago.

Bullpen coach Al Nipper was appointed interim pitching coach at the start of spring training and is expected to remain in that role until Wallace returns. Wallace joined the Red Sox in 2003 and is in his second full season as their pitching coach.

Wallace became pitching coach on June 9, 2003, when Tony Cloninger took a medical leave of absence. Wallace had spent most of his career in the Dodger organization, also serving as senior vice president of baseball operations.

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Left-hander Chris Capuano, coming off a career-best 18-12 season, signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 27-year-old Capuano, who led the majors with 12 pickoffs, set career highs in wins, games started (35), strikeouts (176) and earned-run average (3.99).

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Toronto Blue Jay center fielder Vernon Wells returned to spring training after his strained left quadriceps was examined by doctors in Toronto.

The two-time Gold Glove winner, injured while lifting weights last weekend, participated in Friday’s workout.

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Frank Thomas will be able to intensify workouts after doctors gave the Oakland Athletics positive reports on his recovering left ankle.

Thomas, limited to 108 games the last two seasons because of broken bones in the ankle, was being held out of baseball activities.

“All signs point to Frank hitting off the tee and soft tosses,” trainer Larry Davis said. “He’s ready to go.”

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Mark Prior and Kerry Wood threw from a pitching mound in their first appearances at spring training with the Chicago Cubs.

Wood is recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery Aug. 31, and the Cubs are going slowly with Prior in an attempt to avoid elbow problems that bothered him the previous two springs.