D

Rangers Outfielder Josh Hamilton To Undergo Surgery Tuesday, Out At Least Four More Weeks

• Also: RHP Frank Francisco still iffy; minor leaguer suspended after arrest for rape.

ARLINGTON – Rangers GM Jon Daniels said Monday that CF Josh Hamilton will undergo a surgical procedure on Tuesday in Philadelphia to repair a partial tear of his abdominal muscle and will miss at least four more weeks.

Hamilton agreed to undergo the procedure after meeting with Philadelphia-based surgeon Dr. William Meyer, who has had success with quick recoveries for a less-invasive procedure than typical hernia repair. In a traditional hernia operation, a mesh is stretched across the herniated area and then “tacked” to the abdominal wall. That procedure usually requires eight to 10 weeks of recovery. In Dr. Meyer’s procedure, the area is essentially sutured up. Dr. Meyer has performed this surgery on Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and former baseball player Trot Nixon.

“Given what it could have been, this is certainly better than that,” Daniels said.

If Hamilton experiences no setbacks following Dr. Meyer’s procedure, he could be back on the field by the start of the second half on July 17, if not before. Hamilton has already missed about half of the Rangers 56 games with a strained rib cage muscle and now the abdominal muscle tear.

Francisco still uncertain: Daniels said RHP Frank Francisco reported feeling somewhat better Monday, but the club had no further news about his readiness to pitch. It will once again be a game-time decision. Daniels said the club is still not considering a move to the DL for Francisco, who hasn’t pitched since last Wednesday in New York.

Less than 24 hours after he picked up his 12th save against the Yankees, Francisco warmed up to pitch the 9th in case the Rangers came back to take a lead at Yankee Stadium. It was the first time he threw on back-to-back days since coming back from a DL stint that followed a run of three consecutive days of pitching. When he first returned from the DL, the Rangers said they would be cautious about having him throw back-to-back days. The club waited nearly two weeks before attempting the back-to-back trick, but Francisco showed up in Boston the next day sore.

Briefly: Class A Bakersfield RHP Josh Lueke, a 16th round selection in the 2007 draft, has been jailed in Bakersfield on charges of rape stemming from an incident in May, 2008. Lueke was arrested on May 27 and has been placed on the suspended list by the Rangers. “We’re aware of the situation,” GM Jon Daniels said. “They are serious charges. We will let the legal process run its course. Until then, we’ll have no comment.”