OAKLAND -- A's reliever Fernando Rodriguez, on the disabled list since early July, had surgery Friday to repair a torn latissimus dorsi muscle in his right side.
Rodriguez's lat muscle was completely torn from the back of the shoulder, and he also required a debridement of the teres major tendon. The A's say the expected recovery time would have Rodriguez starting a throwing program after four months.
[RELATED: A's reliever Rodriguez undergoes successful shoulder surgery]
That would have him starting to throw sometime in January, and given the incremental stages in which he'll have to build up arm strength, Rodriguez figures to be a bit behind other pitchers when spring training begins.
Rodriguez's procedure was performed by Chicago-based specialist Dr. Anthony Romeo. Romeo did the same surgery for Giants pitcher Jake Peavy in 2010. At the time, it was considered an experimental procedure that involved reattaching the lat muscle to the back of the shoulder using stitches and anchors.
**
Sean Manaea is scheduled to throw an extended bullpen session Saturday, and if that goes well, manager Bob Melvin said the A's will then decide where to slot the lefty back into the rotation during the upcoming four-game series at Kansas City. Manaea has been sidelined by soreness in his upper back.
**
Rookie second baseman Joey Wendle is drawing his first start as the leadoff hitter Friday night against Seattle. Melvin has been rotating hitters through the leadoff spot since Coco Crisp was traded. Both Jake Smolinski and Marcus Semien have hit in the top spot recently.
"We've been struggling to find a guy (to) maybe consistently do it," Melvin said. "I don't know if we have anybody here that really has done it a whole lot. Smoly's done a nice job for the most part. Marcus has done a nice job. (But) It's nice to have those guys somewhere where they can knock some runs in too."
