Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) – Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson
Werth underwent successful surgery Friday to repair the AC joint in his right
shoulder.
Werth is expected to miss between 2-to-3 months, putting his availability for
the start of the 2015 season in question. The team did say, however, that
there were no structural abnormalities found in his shoulder.
The 35-year-old initially hurt his shoulder while making a catch against the
Philadelphia Phillies in early August. Werth missed a week with the injury,
but batted .339 over the final 35 games of the regular season after returning
to the lineup.
In 147 overall regular season games in 2014, Werth hit .292 with 16 home runs
and 82 RBI to help Washington win a National League-best 96 games.
Werth, entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $126 million contract he
signed with Washington in December of 2010, has had an eventful offseason. He
was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 170 of which were suspended, after being
found guilty last month of reckless driving in Fairfax County, Virginia during
the summer.