Sox put Lowell on DL

Injured hip shelves utility infielder

Boston Herald—June 25, 2010

It wasn't like Mike Lowell wanted to go on the disabled list Thursday. It was just that, given his diminished role with the Red Sox and the intensifying pain in his surgically repaired right hip, he agreed it was the best move.

Lowell said Tuesday was the first time this season that his hip caused a significant problem. If he had been playing every day, he may have considered cortisone injections to manage the pain. But he has only 13 at-bats in June and started only four games since May 21, and said Dr. Bryan Kelly, a sports medicine and hip specialist at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery and the surgeon who operated on Lowell's hip after the 2008 season, said multiple cortisone injections may eat away cartilage and lead to needing a hip replacement.

Lowell is eligible to come off the DL July 9, three weeks before the trade deadline. A minor league rehab assignment would give the Sox a chance to showcase Lowell to prove he's healthy enough to contribute to another team.

Read the full story at seacoastonline.com.