MLB: Gagne might need surgery

Killswitch

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, limited to 16 appearances since the beginning of last season because of elbow problems, might need back surgery.

The 30-year-old right-hander was admitted to St. Vincent Medical Center on Wednesday because of lower back pain the Dodgers said was unrelated to baseball activity.

"Gagne was seen by Dr. [Robert] Watkins and had an MRI today," Dodgers trainer Stan Johnston said before Thursday night's game against the San Francisco Giants.

Johnston said the examination revealed two herniated disks.

"He was given a nerve block and an epidural injection, and they're going to re-evaluate him tomorrow," Johnston said, adding Gagne woke up Tuesday morning with "bad back pain."

"It's a disk herniation, so it's pressing on the nerve and that's where the pain is being caused," Johnston said.

Gagne remained hospitalized late Thursday. Johnston said he didn't know when the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner would be discharged.

"It depends on how he reacts to the injections," Johnston said. "The injections shrink up the disk and takes the pressure off the nerve. He could be facing possible surgery if the injections don't work. They'll probably make the determination either tomorrow or the next day."

Johnson said Gagne was "very down" when he spoke with him.

"He was in a lot of pain," Johnston added.

When asked how close Gagne would have been to returning from his elbow problems, Johnston replied: "He was getting closer. It's hard to say because we haven't seen him in three days."

Gagne underwent surgery to remove a nerve from his right elbow April 7, causing him to miss the season's first 51 games. He made two one-inning appearances before going back on the disabled list because another nerve in his elbow caused discomfort.

Gagne hasn't pitched since June 6, when he struck out two in a perfect ninth inning of an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets to earn his first save in nearly a year.

The nerve that was removed in April was the same one that was moved during a season-ending operation on June 24, 2005. He pitched in 14 games last season with eight saves in as many chances.

Gagne, a three-time All-Star who holds the major-league record for consecutive saves converted with 84, pitched a scoreless inning June 2 against Philadelphia in his first appearance of the season. His outing against the Mets was his second.

J-ROC

Gagne is one of the best closers in baseball history and it's a shame that he will most likely have surgery again. He missed most of last season and will miss the rest of this season too. Eric is an awesome pitcher and I'm sure he would be leading the Dodgers to the playoffs if he wasn't injured.