Edmonds To Sit Out Four Months

April 19, 1999 / 9:53 PM EDT / AP

The Anaheim Angels' Gold Glove center fielder Jim Edmonds has decided to have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and will be out for at least four months, the team doctor said on Monday.

Already on the disabled list with a strained groin and an irritated right shoulder, Edmonts will have the surgery Thursday. Team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum said that the "minimum amount of recuperation time" will be about four months.

The news comes as the injury-ravaged Angels were expected to welcome back injured first baseman Mo Vaughn later this week.

The 28-year-old Edmonds was to have accompanied the Angels to Toronto for a three-game series that begins Tuesday. He arrived at Edison Field Monday morning for some work with batting instructor Rod Carew and was unable to participate in any drills. Thus, his decision for surgery.

"We've tried a variety of avenues via medication and therapy to treat the shoulder," Yocum said. "The surgery should allow for full return of arm strength, but we will know more following the procedure."

Edmonds was placed on the disabled list on April 4 after hitting .400 (18-for-45) with one home run and eight RBI in 16 games this spring.

Vaughn sprained his left ankle in the season opener on April 6 and is expected to be activated as early as Thursday. Infielders Gary DiSarcina and Justin Baughman and pitchers Jason Dickson and Pep Harris are among other Angels on the disabled list.

The surgery for Edmonds leaves Garret Anderson, who is hitting .250 with one homer and seven RBI, as the center fielder for the foreseeable future.

When Vaughn is activated, the Angels are expected to move Darin Erstad back to left field in place of Orlando Palmeiro. Erstad had been playing first base.

Edmonds was recognized for his spectacular play in center field last season with his second straight Gold Glove Award. He also hit .307 with 25 homers and 91 RBI, giving him 111 home runs and 344 RBI the past four seasons.

The knock on Edmonds has been his ability to stay healthy. He played in a career-high 154 games last season but missed an average of nearly 33 games over the previous three years.