Wells may return by All-Star break

The Pirates pitcher had surgery to correct a blocked artery in his shoulder.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates expect to have ailing pitcher Kip Wells, who had surgery Monday to correct a blocked artery, back in rotation by the All-Star break, general manager Dave Littlefield said Tuesday.
Dr. Robert Thompson, a surgeon at Washington University in St. Louis, transplanted a vein from Wells' leg to replace the damaged part of an artery in Wells' right armpit.
The artery that was replaced is the primary blood vessel from the heart to the upper extremities, and Wells' had been completely blocked, causing his arm and hand to feel tired.
Littlefield said Wells will spend two or three days in St. Louis to rest and return home to Houston for an unspecified amount of time.
Rehabilitation program
In four to six weeks, Wells can begin a rehabilitation program to strengthen his arm.
There had been uncertainty going into the procedure whether Wells had a more serious condition called thoracic outlet syndrome, which would have caused Thompson to remove his first rib to relieve pressure on the vessel. That wasn't the case. If it had been, Wells would have missed the entire season.
Littlefield called the outcome of the surgery ideal.
"I think, with what was identified before the surgery, it really came off similar to what Dr. Thompson thought would happen," Littlefield said. "Considering all things, I think it is a good result."
Wells had been throwing well in the Pirates' January minicamp and the early part of spring training, but he was shut down in the final week of February after complaining of arm fatigue. The team's medical staff detected he had a pulse in his right arm much different from his left and sent him to Thompson.
Experience
Wells, 28, was expected to be an anchor of the Pirates' rotation despite having gone 8-18 with a 5.09 earned run average last season. He led the team with 182 innings pitched and missed one start in 2005.
Wells is the most experienced member of a staff that has Oliver Perez, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm -- all 24 or younger -- as its only confirmed starters. Others vying for starting duty are Victor Santos, Ryan Vogelsong, Ian Snell, Brandon Duckworth and, if health allows, Sean Burnett.
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