TUCSON — Now comes wait-and-see season for Jeff Francis.
The Rockies’ left-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery this morning to repair his aching left shoulder. The operation was performed by team medical director Dr. Tom Noonan at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Greenwood Village.
Noonan repaired the labrum in Francis’ shoulder and also cleaned up fraying in his rotator cuff (a procedure called debridement).
he Rockies said there is no timetable for Francis’ return to pitching, though Francis said before the surgery that he could be out anywhere from 6-12 months.
It is almost certain Francis will miss the entire 2009 season.
“There is an understanding now that something was wrong, that would have prevented him from pitching to his capabilities,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said.
“It’s too early to speculate on when he might be back.”
Francis, 28, went 4-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 24 starts for the Rockies in 2008. That came on the heels of his 17-9 record in 2007 in which he helped lead the Rockies to the World Series.
Francis’ left shoulder began flaring up last May and he tried to pitch through the pain. He spent more than month on the disabled list because of shoulder inflammation.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
