Kyle McClellan Injury Update: Cardinals RHP Will Miss The Rest Of 2012 After Undergoing Shoulder Surgery

Kyle McClellan had hoped to return to the Cardinals in August or September, but after undergoing surgery on his shoulder this week, that is no longer a possibility -- McClellan won't pitch again this season.

During a recent throwing session, McClellan felt an injury in his shoulder resurface, the injury he believes led to the elbow trouble. A tear in his right labrum was revealed during an exam and promptly repaired Tuesday during surgery in St. Louis. Team physician Dr. George Paletta performed the procedure. McClellan also had capsulitis in the joint -- an irritation that had caused soreness and swelling.

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McClellan made 16 relief appearances for St. Louis in 2012, striking out 11 and walking nine over 18-2/3 innings. He was 0-1 with a 5.30 ERA.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cardinals blog Viva El Birdos. And for more news and notes from around baseball, check out Baseball Nation.

Kyle McClellan Injury: Cardinals Pitcher Confident He'll Return In August Or September

After the initial injury diagnosis of a small tear in his pitching elbow's UCL, Kyle McClellan said he hoped he'd be able to just rehab it and avoid surgery. But he sought a second opinion just in case and was reassured that Tommy John surgery would not be necessary. Now he's hoping for a return some time in August.

Kyle McClellan went to Florida yesterday to get a second opinion on his elbow from Dr. Andrews, who also said TJ surgery was not needed.

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) May 22, 2012

McClellan will continue to rehab and won't throw for 6-8 weeks but is confident he will pitch again in August and September.

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) May 22, 2012

Related: Kyle McClellan Injury: Cardinals Reliever Has Small Tear In Ulnar Collateral Ligament, Strained Flexor Pronator

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cardinals blog Viva El Birdos. And for more news and notes from around baseball, check out Baseball Nation.

Kyle McClellan Injury: Cardinals Reliever Has Small Tear In Ulnar Collateral Ligament, Strained Flexor Pronator

After leaving Thursday's game with elbow pain, Cardinals reliever Kyle McClellan returned to St. Louis for further evaluation. He received relatively good news about the nature of the injury on Friday and hopes now to rehab the arm and avoid surgery:

"We think there’s a good chance of rehabbing it over the next few weeks and avoiding surgery," McClellan told FOXSportsMidwest.com in a text message.

McClellan described the findings as "good news" after thinking Thursday that a second Tommy John surgery might be necessary, which would have put him out for the rest of this season and part of 2013.

Related: The St. Louis Cardinals Run Out of Breathing Room

McClellan has a 5.30 ERA in 18-2/3 innings pitched in 2012.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. For more in-depth coverage, visit Cardinals blog Viva El Birdos. And for more news and notes from around baseball, check out Baseball Nation.

Kyle McClellan Injury: St. Louis Cardinals Reliever Could Require Elbow Surgery

Kyle McClellan could require elbow surgery after leaving Thursday's St. Louis Cardinals loss.