Arizona.Diamondbacks.MLB.com

Webb relieved by results of surgery

• fan comments
• print this page
• e-mail this page
• post on facebook

Related Links

• Webb's player page
• D-backs historical statistics
• Add D-backs toolbar to your browser

By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/03/09 8:34 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Brandon Webb got the news he was hoping for Monday.

The D-backs' right-hander underwent successful minor surgery on his right shoulder in Arlington, Texas, which revealed that he did not have any tears in his labrum.

Instead, Dr. Keith Meister performed what is known as a debridement, which is the surgical removal of lacerated, devitalized or contaminated tissue. Webb said that some shaving was done to the labrum area where it was frayed.

"[The damage was] just normal wear and tear you get from pitching," Webb told MLB.com. "It was as good as could be expected. There were no sutures put in there, no tears or anything like that, which is huge. [Meister] said, 'It's like getting gravel out of your shoe.'"

The so-called gravel has kept Webb from pitching since Opening Day this year, but he said he was told that he should be ready to go for Spring Training next season.

Webb, who is currently in a sling, will head back to Phoenix, where he will begin physical therapy Thursday or Friday. He said that Meister told him he could be playing catch in 10 weeks.

"We'll see how it goes," Webb said. "I may do a mini-throwing program in October and then shut it down and pick it back up to get ready for Spring Training. We'll just see, but the doctor seemed confident that I'd be ready to go."

One thing that Webb will do is continue the intense stretching and strengthening program he began at the end of June.

Rather than spend the majority of the offseason in his hometown of Ashland, Ky., he said he intends to stay in Phoenix to work out.

"The good thing in all of this is that I'm as strong as I've ever been because of the program I've been on, so that's really going to help in the recovery," Webb said. "I'm going to work really hard on those exercises."

Webb's contract expires at the end of the season, but the D-backs hold an option for 2010 at $8.5 million. Arizona can buy out the option year for $2 million. The team must decide within five days after the completion of the World Series.

"I feel like that will happen," Webb said of the D-backs picking up the option. "It's up to them, but I hope they give me a chance. This is the only place I've pitched and I would like to stay with the organization. Arizona has become like home for me and my family. "

"We've still got in the neighborhood of 100 days before we have to make that decision," D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes said last week when it was announced Webb might need surgery. "He's been a tremendous pitcher for this organization, and he's obviously a tremendous person within the walls of the organization. We're going to use all the information we can gather in the next 100 days or so to make the best decision."

The 30-year-old right-hander has been a mainstay in the Arizona rotation since 2003, when he finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In addition to winning the NL Cy Young Award in '06, he finished second in balloting in both '07 and '08.

Webb, 22-7 with a 3.30 ERA last season, has been a workhorse for the D-backs. After being called up in April 2003, he made 28 starts and has made at least 33 starts every season since.

This year, Webb's lone start was on April 6.

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.