Mets ace Johan Santana needs shoulder surgery after MRI reveals tear

Newark Star-Ledger—September 11, 2010

All fears were realized. It required only an exam at Hospital for Special Surgery two days ago. In the week prior, the Mets insisted Johan Santana suffered from pectoral pain. Santana insisted he could still pitch.

An MRI taken Thursday disproved both notions. It revealed that Santana tore the anterior capsule of his left shoulder. His season is over.

“I didn’t know the magnitude of the injury that I had,” Santana said before last night’s game against Philadelphia.

For the third time in three years as a Met, Santana (11-9, 2.98 ERA) will undergo surgery. For the second time in two years, that surgery will end his season prematurely.

In 2008, it was a meniscus tear in his knee. In 2009, it was bone chips in his elbow. Now comes what Santana was told is “not a common injury.”

No surgery date has been scheduled. Team doctor David Altchek of Hospital for Special Surgery likely will perform the operation.

Santana believes he can resume throwing in January, but returning for Opening Day 2011 remains unclear.

Read the full story at nj.com.