Indians DH Hafner to have shoulder surgery

Oct 14, 2008 - 3:17 PM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Cleveland Indians slugger Travis Hafner will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday.

The exact nature of the procedure, to be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama, remains unclear.

Hafner, 31, first started having problems with the shoulder in spring training and eventually went on the disabled list May 30.

Hafner did not return to the Indians until September 9 and, though he did not report it, continued to have discomfort down the stretch.

According to Indians' head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff, neither MRIs nor clinical examinations of the designated hitter's shoulder this year have revealed a need for reconstruction or repair.

Soloff added, however, that Tuesday's procedure will reveal whether a more extensive surgery is required.

"The time is now to do something," Soloff said. "(We want to) have Travis as close to 100 percent (and) as unrestricted as possible by the start of next year."

Hafner, who batted .197 with five homers and 24 RBI in 57 games last season, is due to make $49 million over the next four years, with a $13 million option or a $2.75 million buyout for 2013.