Jun 4, 2008 - 10:39 AM
0 shoutsATLANTA (Ticker) -- Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz could be done for the season.
Smoltz has scheduled a Wednesday morning news conference for 11:30 a.m. EDT at Turner Field.
The team has not officially disclosed the reason for the conference, but Braves catcher Brian McCann told Atlanta radio station 790 The Zone that Smoltz is set to have season-ending shoulder surgery.
If McCann is accurate, the news would be devastating to the Braves, who were counting on the 41-year-old Smoltz to stabilize their pitching staff this season.
Smoltz, who will be accompanied by Braves general manager Frank Wren and manager Bobby Cox at the news conference, began this season as a starter before landing on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.
After being sidelined over a month, Smoltz returned to the Braves as a reliever on Monday. The righthander allowed two runs to blow a save opportunity against the Florida Marlins and reportedly woke up the next morning complaining of shoulder pain.
A free agent after this season, Smoltz has spent his entire 20-year career with Atlanta, going 210-147 with a 3.26 ERA and 154 saves. The eight-time All-Star is the only pitcher in baseball history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves.
