Mets Expect Delgado Back in Late July After Hip Surgery

Sports Illustrated—May 19, 2009

Carlos Delgado had hip surgery Tuesday, and the New York Mets expect their slugging first baseman to return to the lineup in late July.

Delgado had arthroscopic surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery, and the Mets said he will need a recovery period of about 10 weeks.

"I feel very confident about this," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said during a conference call, "but, of course, you don't know that until the guy goes out there and rehabs. But guys have had this before and there's a good track record in that range of 10 weeks. So we hope that that's the case."

Delgado was diagnosed with an impingement of the hip, a bone spur and torn labrum.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had surgery March 9 to repair a torn labrum - cartilage that lines the hip socket to stabilize and cushion the joint. He resumed baseball drills on April 13 and rejoined the major league roster on May 8.

Boston third baseman Mike Lowell had hip surgery in October and Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley had it a month later, and both were ready by spring training.