Clayton Kershaw’s Hip Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander and Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw will not need surgery this offseason to repair an impingement in his right hip. The 24-year-old lefty has responded well to treatment and is expected to enjoy “a regular offseason”, team trainer Sue Falone told the LA Times:

The news on Kershaw’s hip has gotten progressively better since the initial doomsday diagnosis of a torn labrum in mid-September, a report that indicated the left-hander would need season-ending surgery and be sidelined until May of 2013.

Kershaw, who has been out indefinitely with a right hip injury, was examined by a hip specialist, Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York, who diagnosed the hurler with an impingement of his right hip. He was cleared to start throwing again, but the Dodgers were waiting to see if pain persisted.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told the media he wanted to discuss with GM Ned Colletti before making any official announcements, but Kershaw threw pain-free and there would be no obstacles for his return this weekend.

But then I read the first sentence from Rotoworld’s blurb on Sunday’s game …

Pitching with a damaged hip, Kershaw was effectively wild tonight, walking five and hitting a batter before coming out.Or, maybe just whittle that down to the introductory clause.

Kershaw has been examined by a hip specialist who says the southpaw can keep on throwing without risking damage to his hip. However, the organization is not taking chances: If the pain persists, Kershaw will stay off the mound according to the Associated Press.

Dr. Bryan Kelly saw Kershaw in New York and agreed with team physician Neal ElAttrache, who found that Kershaw’s joint is pinched during the hip’s rotation during his pitching motion.

Yesterday, Kershaw was reportedly considering hip surgery. The ace’s status at that time was much more bleak, as it was possible he’d even miss the start of next season. After visiting with Dr. Bryan Kelly on Tuesday, the outlook appears to be less painful for the Dodgers.

Kershaw currently holds a 12-9 record this season with a 2.70 ERA.

The 24-year-old Kershaw, who has been LA’s Opening Day starter the last two seasons, is under contract for $11 million next season and will not become a free agent until after 2014.

Really, this is getting sort of ridiculous.