San Francisco’s TIm Lincecum Has Hip Surgery

Tim Lincecum has undergone hip surgery and will be lost to the San Francisco Giants for the remainder of the regular and postseason, if the Giants reach the post season.

The pitcher for the Giants had surgery Thursday on his left hip and will go through five months of rehabilitation in order to be ready for the start of the 2016 season.

The operation was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon in Vail, Colorado on the Giants two-time NL Cy Young award winner.

Prior to the Giants starting their series on Thursday in Colorado, Dave Groeschner the trainer for San Francisco said the doctor was confident he Lincecum would return next season to major league pitching levels.

Philippon repaired the torn labrum on Lincecum’s left hip during the procedure, which was only arthroscopic and addressed a bone build up or hip impingement that occurred over a period of time that was the biggest discomfort for the right-handed veteran pitcher.

Bruce Bochy, the manager for the Giants said he was glad something was done as it will give the pitcher some peace of mind and put this all behind him.

Lincecum will start a range of exercises for motion on Friday and remain in Colorado before going to Scottsdale, Arizona next week to start working out there with the team physical therapist.

Lincecum is 31 and this season in his 15 starts was 7-4 with an ERA of 4.13. His last start was on June 27.

Groeschner said that the veteran pitcher wanted to return to pitching this season as he worked hard on his hip, taking cortisone shots but it was not enough for him to be able to play.

In 2008 and 2009, Lincecum won the NL Cy Young award to become the first pitcher to do so in his first two seasons. However, he struggled over much of the past four seasons, with a record of 39-42 with an ERA of 4.68.

This is the final season of his current two-year contract and the pitcher will be a free agent following the season.

Bochy said he was hopeful that Lincecum returns to San Francisco next season recognizing that the final decision is with the Giants front office.

Bochy added that he loved Lincecum calling him a great teammate. He said everyone knows how much Tim has done for San Francisco and the door for Tim will always remain open.

Bochy said he appreciated all that Lincecum had already done while he has been the manager and insisted that did not mean it would not continue.