By Erin K. Blakeley, Shoulder1 Staff
White Sox reliever Antonio Osuna will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder. The 27-year-old-right-handed pitcher has been struggling all season for the Sox, producing lackluster results in his four April appearances. The cyst is causing an impingement in his throwing shoulder.
Impingement is a painful condition that tends to affect pitchers, or other players who engage in continuous throwing. The parts of the shoulder that combine to cause the condition are the acromion, or the bone extension of the shoulder blade, and the rotator cuff, the group of muscles and tendons responsible for raising and lowering the arm. Normally, impingement occurs when the acromion and rotator cuff rub against each other. The friction between the two parts of the shoulder can occur due to a number of reasons, including bone deformities in the acromion or inflammation in the rotator cuff. In Osuna’s case, a cyst was the culprit.
Osuna will undergo surgery this week to remove the cyst. The surgery is considered relatively minor, but as White Sox general Manager Kenny Williams told the Chicago Daily Herald, it is still cause for some concern.
“It’s always serious when you have invasive surgery. This is a few-week thing. It’s a relief when you know what you’re dealing with, particularly when you find out it’s not likely to be long-term.”
The White Sox acquired Osuna back in March from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitcher had suffered shoulder tendonitis during spring training, but pitched well for the Sox at the end of camp. After a poor showing in four April appearances (20.77 ERA), he was placed on the disabled list on April 21st.
