Jose Bautista undergoes sports hernia surgery
Jose Bautista underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, the Toronto Blue Jays announced Thursday. He is expected to need about four to six weeks to recover, but that will leave plenty of time for Bautista to be ready for the opening of camp next year.
Bautista had a break-out season with the Blue Jays this year, leading all Major League hitters with 54 home runs. Far behind him in second place was Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals with 42.
In 2009 Bautista hit just 13 home runs, and few expected him to become the power hitter he was in 2010. He set the record for largest increase in home runs over two years, 41, the previous record was 38 when Davey Johnson went from five in 1972 to 43 in
1973.
Bautista was traded to the Blue Jays on 21 August 2008 for Robinzon Diaz after being optioned to Triple-A team, the Indianapolis Indians. He began his career with the Blue Jays backing up Scott Rolen at third base.
His success was sporadic in his first full year (2009) with the Blue Jays, but managed to begin 2010 as the starting right fielder for the Blue Jays, and the club’s leadoff man. He ended the season with 54 home runs, 124 RBIs, and a .260 batting average.
Toronto is a rebuilding club, that had a better than expected season in 2010 going 85-77. There was talk that the Jays could trade Bautista at last year’s trade deadline to acquire more youth, but the club’s decision to keep the power hitter showed both
a desire to win sooner rather than later, and that they believe Bautista will continue his impressive hitting.
Sports hernia surgery should not affect Bautista’s play in the coming season, having plenty of time to recover from it. It could even make Bautista a slightly better player if it relieves pain and allows him to feel more comfortable in the field and at the
plate.
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