Grady Sizemore is playing through pain, and the Indians' All-Star center fielder appears likely to have arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow at season's end, according to head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff.
Soloff said Tuesday that there is a "high index of suspicion" Sizemore will have the surgery when the '09 season concludes. The Indians are letting him play through the pain now, because it is tolerable enough not to have an overbearing effect on Sizemore's performance.
Sizemore was on the disabled list from May 31-June 23 because of inflammation in the elbow. The Indians have said that MRI examinations on the elbow have not revealed structural damage.
The arthroscopic surgery would clean out Sizemore's elbow joint and rid it of the inflamed mass. It would require about a four-to-six-week recovery period.
It remains possible that Sizemore would have the surgery in-season if the elbow flares up on him again. For now, the Indians are keeping it under control with treatment and occasional rest.
Until he has the surgery, Sizemore, who is batting .226 with 10 homers and 39 RBIs on the season and .250 (6-for-24) with a homer and eight RBIs in six games since his return, will just have to grin and bear the pain.
"He'll have symptoms for the balance of the season," Soloff said. "Our hope is that we can keep him away from symptoms that affect his performance or put him at a risk for injury."
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