Injury Update: Wily Mo Pena

The Nationals issued a press release this morning describing the surgery and rehab for Wily Mo Pena:

Earlier today, Nationals outfielder Wily Mo Pena had successful surgery performed on his left shoulder by Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Kremchek repaired a significant partial tear of his rotator cuff, as well as a tear and fraying of his posterior labrum.

Pena will be placed in a sling for approximately 3 weeks, at which time a formal rehab program will begin. Pena will be out for 4-6 months, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training 2009.

Bottom(feeder) Line: Pena may very well have played his last game in a Washington uniform, depending on the route the front office goes between now and the beginning of Spring Training next season. It's not a stretch to think that Pena's future hinges on GM Jim Bowden being retained. Pena was terrible this season, both at the plate (.205/.243/.267 with two homers and 10 rbis in 195 at bats) and in the field. Apparently some of that can be attributed to the injury.

Pena's actions, however, continue a disturbing trend in either players hiding or downgrading their injury, or the team's inability to properly diagnose the problem and get proper medical attention before a catastrophic result -- surgery. Patterson, Cordero, Hill, Kearns, Zimmerman and now Pena have all followed a similar disturbing pattern.

Photo (c) C. Nichols 2008