ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann will have season-ending shoulder surgery after deciding rest wouldn’t be enough to get him back to full strength.
Niemann’s surgery will be performed Wednesday in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Texas Rangers team doctor Keith Meister, who gave the pitcher a second opinion Monday.
The 30-year-old Niemann estimated the procedure to repair his labrum and rotator cuff would keep him out nine to 12 months.
Niemann went 2-3 with a 3.08 ERA in eight starts in 2012. He broke his right leg last May and returned Sept. 1, only to leave that game with shoulder problems.
The 30-year-old Niemann was moved to the bullpen in spring training. Tampa Bay placed Niemann on the disabled list Friday with right shoulder soreness.
