HOUSTON -- Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell will have surgery Tuesday on his arthritic right shoulder and may be out for the rest of the season.
The rehabilitation is expected to last three months, putting his return this year in doubt.
"There's a possibility if everything goes right," Bagwell said. "But to go ahead to try to push myself and hurt myself again, then I'm not going to do it. We've got to figure out where we are in September, where I'm at, then we'll make the decision."
The four-time All-Star, who turned 37 last month, has been out since May 3. He's batting .250 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games for Houston, which ranks last in the NL in hits and homers.
Bagwell left Houston on Monday with his wife, Ericka, and Astros medical director Dr. David Lintner for Spartanburg, S.C., where the surgery will be done.
"Anybody that feels like me is looking forward to surgery, I promise you," Bagwell said. "This is not only going to help me in baseball, it's going to help me in my everyday life."
Bagwell has been bothered by pain in his shoulder for four years and had surgery in October 2001. He missed just 12 games over the past three seasons despite the discomfort.
After hitting 30 or more homers in eight straight seasons, Bagwell dropped to 27 in 2004. He has 449 career home runs.
The rehabilitation is expected to last three months, putting his return this year in doubt.
"There's a possibility if everything goes right," Bagwell said. "But to go ahead to try to push myself and hurt myself again, then I'm not going to do it. We've got to figure out where we are in September, where I'm at, then we'll make the decision."
The four-time All-Star, who turned 37 last month, has been out since May 3. He's batting .250 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games for Houston, which ranks last in the NL in hits and homers.
Bagwell left Houston on Monday with his wife, Ericka, and Astros medical director Dr. David Lintner for Spartanburg, S.C., where the surgery will be done.
"Anybody that feels like me is looking forward to surgery, I promise you," Bagwell said. "This is not only going to help me in baseball, it's going to help me in my everyday life."
Bagwell has been bothered by pain in his shoulder for four years and had surgery in October 2001. He missed just 12 games over the past three seasons despite the discomfort.
After hitting 30 or more homers in eight straight seasons, Bagwell dropped to 27 in 2004. He has 449 career home runs.
