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Vernon Wells had his partially torn labrum in his left shoulder repaired by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., yesterday.
"He used four sutures to re-attach the labrum," Blue Jay assistant GM Bart Given said. "There was no damage to the rotator cuff and the doctor did not remove the cyst that was there because it was close to some nerves and wasn't causing any problem related to the shoulder. He'll be back to full strength in three months."
The procedure to remove three pins from Lyle Overbay's surgically-repaired right hand also went routinely yesterday.
"It turned out well," said manager John Gibbons. "The doctor said there was quite a bit of scar tissue, which probably helps explain the discomfort Lyle had been feeling."
Shaun Marcum will have minor surgery on his right knee today in Florida.
HOME GAME FOR BANKS
Blue Jay farmhand Josh Banks will get to make his first major league start tomorrow night in familiar surroundings.
A Baltimore native and Orioles' season ticket holder as a youngster, Banks expects as many as 500 friends and family to be on hand at Camden Yards for his debut, pitching in the rotation spot that opened up when Marcum suffered a season-ending knee injury on the weekend.
"My sister's work has bought 200 tickets alone. And that's just my sister," Banks said. "So I wouldn't be surprised if it's a lot more (than 500)."
WEBSTER WINNERS
The Blue Jays have announced the R. Howard Webster Award winners for 2007, honoring the most valuable players at all their affiliated minor league teams. Banks was named MVP at triple A Syracuse; outfielder David Smith won top honors at Double A New Hampshire; first baseman Josh Kreuzer was Single A Dunedin's MVP; outfielder Travis Snider, Single A Lansing; lefthanded pitcher Brett Cecil, Single A Auburn; outfielder Johermyn Chavez, Gulf Coast rookie league; outfielder Wellinton Ramirez, Dominican Summer League, Team 1; outfielder Yensy Perez, Dominican Summer League, Team 2.
REPORT CARD
A At the plate: Frank Thomas pounded out four hits including his team-leading 26th home run. He also drove in three runs for 94 on the year.
C Starter: But for one unpleasant inning, A.J. Burnett pitched well in earning his 10th win. In the end, he worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, three walks and four runs
A Bullpen: Brian Wolfe picked up Burnett with the bases loaded in the seventh and got the final out without allowing an inherited runner to score.a solid eighth. Jason Frasor struck out a pair in the ninth.hdfkjashdfkjhasdkfha