Bonderman to undergo surgery June 30th

06/29/2008 1:35 PM ET
Bonderman to undergo surgery
Tigers righty dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman will undergo potentially season-ending surgery to address his thoracic outlet syndrome on Monday in Dallas. The condition placed him on the disabled list for the second straight season.

Dr. Greg Pearl, a specialist who operated on fellow Tigers starter Kenny Rogers for a similar problem in 2001 and last season, will perform the surgery.

The Detroit training staff could offer no specifics about the procedure. It is unknown if the operation will involve removing Bonderman's first rib on his right side, which team trainers thought might be causing the pitcher's circulatory problems. Thoracic outlet syndrome stems from a pinching of the vein responsible for returning blood from the arm to the heart.

A timetable for Bonderman's return will depend on the outcome of the surgery. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand initially said if Bonderman required an operation, his season likely was finished.

Bonderman complained to team trainers of a heavy arm on June 6. He underwent a thrombylosis that night at Detroit Medical Center to dissolve a blood clot in the vein and an angioplasty the next day to clear it.

The right-hander is 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA this season. He was one of Detroit's most consistent starters at the time of his injury, having thrown four straight quality starts. Bonderman suffered inflammation in his right elbow last season.

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome like a brain deficiency?

Bonderman surgery successful
by Steve Kornacki
Monday June 30, 2008, 6:38 PM

Starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman underwent successful surgery today in Dallas to correct his thoracic outlet compression syndrome, according to Detroit Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand. The sydrome resulted from a rib pinching off a vein carrying blood from his right arm to his heart and caused a blood clot that was broken up with a thrombolysis June 6 at Detroit Medical Center. Bonderman, 25, had an angioplasty June 7.

Greg Pearl, the vascular surgeon who performed a similar surgery last year on Detroit starter Kenny Rogers, did a first rib removal and vein bypass on Bonderman.

Rand expects Bonderman, who was 3-4 with a 4.29 ERA, to miss the rest of this season.

Get well Jeremy!!! I hope that this surgery takes care of the issue and he will be healthy again, not only for baseball but for his family.

Now we know why he has had trouble the last two years! Get Well Soon

Glad it all went well.

Good to hear that Bondos surgery was successful. The Tigers will need him back and healthy!!

Bondo's fine for 2009!!

And if Kenny Rogers is correct, Bondo will have even more speed on his pitches!!!!

And hopefully, more bite on that wicked nasty slider of his!!

And maybe a changeup this time.