ATLANTA -- Braves orthopedic surgeon Dr. Xavier Duralde will surgically repair Brian McCann's right shoulder on Tuesday afternoon. A specific timetable for McCann's return will be determined by how extensive this surgery proves to be.
McCann was encouraged to learn that this surgery will focus on the posterior portion of his shoulder. If the damage in the front portion of his shoulder would have been extensive enough to also require repair, McCann would have likely been looking at a longer rehab schedule and the possibility of missing at least the early portion of the 2013 season.
Early indications are that Duralde will need to repair McCann's posterior labrum. If this proves to be true, McCann would begin throwing and hitting off of a tee in mid-February. This would seemingly position him to be ready by Opening Day.
After reviewing the results of an MRI exam performed in early August, the Braves diagnosed McCann with a shoulder subluxation. The exam also showed a cyst on the top of the shoulder and a frayed labrum.
Noted surgeons Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who recently surgically repaired Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp's shoulder, were among those who viewed one of McCann's most recent MRI exam results. Both suggested that this surgical procedure should be limited to the posterior portion of McCann's shoulder.
All of the discomfort McCann battled this past season came when he was swinging the bat. His shoulder never bothered him when making throws.
McCann played through shoulder discomfort as he hit .230 with 20 home runs and a .698 OPS in 121 games this past season.
Nine of his home runs were hit as he batted .296 with a 1.059 OPS in July. It was during this productive stretch that he first indicated that his shoulder had been bothering him most of the season.
Instead of building off of July's success, McCann spent the season's final two months dealing with the additional pain he felt when he reached for a pitch or found himself out in front of an offspeed delivery. He hit .201 with two home runs and a .541 OPS in his final 39 games.
The Braves have not committed to exercising the $12 million option in McCann's contract. They have until three days beyond the conclusion of the World Series to make this decision.
----- Source: MLB.com