Hensley to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- San Diego Padres righthander Clay Hensley will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a tear in his right shoulder, the team announced late Tuesday night. Hensley, who has struggled throughout the season, underwent an MRI on his sore shoulder in July but attempted to pitch through the pain despite knowing about the tear. However, the 28-year-old finally decided to end his season in favor of surgery. "They had said it was kind of torn, but if you can play through it, play through it," Hensley told the Padres' official web site. "But it just got to the point where it's just not helping myself - my arm is killing me."

The operation, which the team web site called "exploratory surgery," will take place Friday morning and will sideline Hensley up to six months. "We just thought it was some tendinitis and stuff, but that being said, at least now I can go into next year healthy and go forward with it and put this year behind me," Hensley said. "At least this year, I know it wasn't a good season but at least I got to play." Hensley went 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA in 13 games - nine starts - this season. The righthander owns a career record of 14-16 with a 3.92 ERA in parts of three seasons - all with the Padres. "It's been a tough season for me," he said. "I know my shoulder has been bothering me, but I never knew it was kind of at this extent."