masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgReliever Dan Klein, widely regarded as the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, will undergo exploratory surgery tomorrow in his right shoulder.

Klein has a SLAP tear in his right labrum, but the Orioles want to make sure he isn’t dealing with other issues, as well. He underwent surgery while at UCLA to clean out the capsule in his rotator cuff area.

Klein hasn’t pitched since June 1 at Double-A Bowie. Continuing soreness in his shoulder led to an MRI that confirmed the tear.

Dr. Lewis Yocum…Reliever Dan Klein, widely regarded as the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, will undergo exploratory surgery tomorrow in his right shoulder.

Klein has a SLAP tear in his right labrum, but the Orioles want to make sure he isn’t dealing with other issues, as well. He underwent surgery while at UCLA to clean out the capsule in his rotator cuff area.

Klein hasn’t pitched since June 1 at Double-A Bowie. Continuing soreness in his shoulder led to an MRI that confirmed the tear.

Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the surgery in California. The Orioles are keeping him busy.

Klein, a third-round pick last year, was 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA in 16 games between Single-A Frederick and Bowie. He walked six and struck out 37 in 32 1/3 innings.

The Orioles planned on pitching Klein in one more game at Bowie before promoting him to Triple-A Norfolk, but they were forced to shut him down. Yocum examined him today after Klein tried twice to throw last week, but had to end his sessions early.

“The last MRI he had showed a slight tear, but (Yocum) also will look at everything and see what all they’ll have to do and repair (the tear) while in there,” said John Stockstill, the Orioles’ director of player development.

Klein will report to the minor league complex in Sarasota and begin rehabbing his shoulder if the surgery isn’t more complicated.

“Hopefully, it’s a minor thing and they can repair it,” Stockstill said.

For the Orioles:
Nolan Reimold LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Vladimir Guerrero DH
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 1B
Robert Andino 2B
Josh Bell 3B

Tommy Hunter RHP

Chris Davis is out of the lineup against Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

For the Athletics:
Weeks 2B
Crisp CF
Matsui LF
Willingham DH
DeJesus RF
Allen 1B
Pennington SS
Suzuki C
Sogard 3B

Gonzalez LHP