Travis undergoes surgery on left shoulder
Expected to be sidelined four to five months, second baseman may miss start of 2016 season
TORONTO -- Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis underwent left shoulder surgery earlier this week, and the rehab likely will impact his ability to start the 2016 season.
Travis had surgery to address a preexisting condition in his shoulder that involved a non-union of the acromion bone. He is expected to miss the next four to five months, which could keep him away from baseball activities until the start of April.
The condition, called Os acromiale, was discovered earlier in the season, but it was determined the issue was not related to inflammation in a similar area. Travis had two lengthy stints on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, and it eventually ended his season on July 31.
Toronto announced Wednesday afternoon that the surgery was performed after the club "exhausted all other possibilities," and that consulting doctors eventually recommended the procedure. It was performed on Tuesday and involved "inserting screws to stabilize the extra bone in his shoulder."
Travis previously underwent exploratory surgery on his left shoulder in late September. He had a large cyst removed, but no major structural damage was found and Travis originally was expected to make a full recovery for Spring Training.
The setback to Travis will have a direct impact on the Blue Jays' needs this offseason. Infielder Ryan Goins took over at second after the non-waiver Trade Deadline, and he'll likely continue to start but Toronto will need to add a utility infielder. Veteran Cliff Pennington had that role late in the year, but he recently signed a two-year deal with the Angels.
Travis' injury also will put an end to any talk of the Blue Jays looking to deal an infielder to address their pitching staff. Goins and Travis should both return, and instead of subtracting from the infield depth, Toronto interim general manager Tony LaCava will need to find a way to increase it.
The 24-year-old Travis had a promising start to the season after he was named the American League Rookie of the Month for April. He finished the year hitting .304 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs and an .859 OPS in 62 games. Travis was on the DL from May 17-June 26, and then again from July 31 until the end of the season.