Mark Kotsay Injury Update

After being plagued by pain and stiffness for more than two seasons with no progress through rehabilitation, the Oakland Athletics' centerfielder Mark Kotsay has opted to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the herniated disk in his back. Though there is no exact timetable for his return, he could be sidelined for up to three months.

Kotsay, 31, hasn't practiced since Feb. 26th, when he first complained of stiffness in his back and had an MRI test two days later. He then left the A's spring training camp in Phoenix and headed to Los Angeles late last week for further testing and a second opinion.

Kotsay played postseason baseball for the first time in his 10-year big league career in 2006, starting 96 of the A's first 111 games through Aug. 6th, but the pain in his back limited him to 25 starts over the final 51 games. He matched his career-lows with 7 home runs and 57 runs, grounding into a career-high 18 double plays while batting .275.

With Kotsay out, Milton Bradley has been moved from right field to center while the club has options in the corner spots with Shannon Stewart, Nick Swisher and Bobby Kielty.

[San Francisco Chronicle]