Padilla Could Miss Rest Of Season After Neck Surgery
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Vicente Padilla, sidelined since May 14 because of a bulging disk in his neck, is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday, manager Don Mattingly says.
Padilla, who turns 34 years old in September, has been in the DL 10 times in his big league career -- including last year, when he missed about 2 1-2 weeks because of the same problem.
Mattingly says the team tried to "treat it conservatively, but it's not working."
Padilla has been limited to nine relief appearances -- all between April 23 and May 13.
The 13-year veteran began the season on the disabled list while recovering from forearm surgery after going 6-5 last year with a 4.07 ERA in 16 starts.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
