Padres pitcher Mark Prior has a tear in the capsule of his surgically repaired right shoulder and will be shut down for the next two weeks, based on what the operating surgeon, James Andrews, told Prior on Friday.
“He does have a tear in his capsule,” said Prior’s agent, John Boggs. “He’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks.”
Andrews repaired the shoulder on April 24, 2007. After Prior was shut down by the Padres earlier this month, he underwent an MRI exam and took the results to Andrews’ office Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala.
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Boggs said Andrews isn’t sure if the tear is part of the original injury and wants to see how Prior, 27, responds to rest. Further diagnostic surgery, he added, was not planned.
“There’s definitely a tear in his capsule; obviously you would have to characterize this as a setback,” Boggs said.
But he said the evaluation didn’t go beyond requiring Prior to refrain from throwing for two weeks. “I feel so bad for Mark because he’s really worked his butt off,” Boggs said.
The Padres planned for him to build up his shoulder strength and make at least five minor-league rehabilitation assignments starting in May. General Manager Kevin Towers had said Prior might be ready to pitch for the Padres in early June. But Prior wasn’t able to get to out of extended spring training.
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EDITED BY BOB FOLTMAN AND MIKE PANKOW