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Walters expected to miss 5 months after shoulder surgery

CLEVELAND -- Zach Walters hit for the cycle in his final game with Triple-A Columbus this season, but the rare feat came at a price.

The Indians announced that Walters underwent left shoulder surgery on Friday morning, and he is expected to miss at least five months due to the injury. The utility man tore the labrum in his shoulder on a dive into home plate in Game 3 of of the International League finals against Indianapolis on Sept. 17.

In that game, the 26-year-old Walters went 4-for-4 with a triple in the second inning, a solo homer in the fourth, a single in the sixth and a double off the right-field wall in the eighth. After his two-base hit, Walters scored on a single by Adam Moore, but he dove head-first across the plate. He immediately rolled over on the ground in apparent pain.

Walters scores, injures shoulder

Walters' surgery to repair the labrum tear was performed by Dr. Mark Schickendantz at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. The Indians indicated that the switch-hitter should be ready to resume baseball activities around March or April, putting him on target to potentially be ready for the regular season.

In 91 games for Columbus this year, Walters hit .249 with 10 home runs, 21 doubles, 48 RBIs and a .726 OPS, while logging playing time at first base, second base, shortstop, third base and left field. He appeared in 12 games for the Indians, batting .133 (4-for-30) with 15 strikeouts and no walks. Walters has a .182/.233/.394 slash line in 82 career Major League games with the Nationals and Indians.

Cleveland acquired Walters from Washington in exchange for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera prior to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline last season.

Walters hits for the cycle

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, follow him on Twitter @MLBastian and listen to his podcast.
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