OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right hip, the latest bad injury news to hit the Athletics’ bullpen this season.
Duchscherer, an All-Star in 2005, had been sidelined since May 15 with soreness in his arthritic right hip that didn’t get better with rest and rehabilitation. Duchscherer was called back from a minor league rehab assignment in late May when the injury flared up again and called off a throwing session Sunday in New York.
Manager Bob Geren had been optimistic about Duchscherer’s return as recently as the weekend but the decision to have the operation was made after the latest setback.
“He’s already tried to do whatever he can to avoid it,” Geren said before Monday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The team does not yet know the details of when and where the surgery will occur.
Duchscherer was 3-3 with a 4.96 ERA in 17 relief appearances for Oakland before the injury. He was one of the A’s most reliable relievers the past three seasons with a 2.80 ERA in 171 appearances, filling in at closer whenever he was needed.
With closer Huston Street and setup man Kiko Calero also spending time on the disabled list this season, Oakland’s bullpen has been short-handed. Street has been sidelined since May 13 with nerve irritation in his right elbow and Calero has been out since June 17 with right shoulder inflammation.
Also, Lenny DiNardo and Chad Gaudin have moved to the rotation after starting the season in the bullpen.
Oakland has gotten good production from Alan Embree, who has converted eight of 10 save chances, and Santiago Casilla, who has allowed only one run in 17 2-3 innings. But the bullpen has struggled of late, going 0-4 with three blown saves and an 8.38 ERA the previous 15 games.
“We haven’t had him or Street for the majority of the year,” Geren said. “It’s been difficult. On the other hand, we’ve got some great things out of it. Santiago Casilla has come on and looked like a legitimate eighth or ninth inning guy. He might not have gotten that opportunity. I’d rather look at the positives than dwell on the negatives.”
In a bit of good news for Oakland’s relievers, Street and Calero are progressing well and scheduled to throw off a mound Tuesday.
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