ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas right-hander Colby Lewis, who was originally slated to have bone spurs removed from his right hip, will have a more extensive procedure next week in New York instead.
Lewis will have hip joint resurfacing surgery instead, which Lewis said is similar to hip replacement.
Instead of a timeline of 6 to 8 weeks of recovery, it could take as long as six months for Lewis to get going again.
"This is kind of the point it's come to," Lewis said.
Lewis said just removing the bone spurs wouldn't give him the range he needs to resume his baseball career. Dr. Ed Su, who will perform the surgery Aug. 22, told Lewis he would be ready to go in six months. Su said Lewis could be on a mound again in four months.
"I knew it was inevitable," Lewis said. "I knew I was going to have it replaced at some point in my life. Now I wasn't really hoping for it. It's something that's going to give me my best opportunity to come back and be pain free. I made a decision and I'm looking forward to no pain, no arthritic pain."
Lewis has been plagued by pain in his hip since he returned to the Rangers in 2010. Lewis, who will be a free agent following the season, was trying to return this year from right flexor tendon surgery. He had progressed well but hip pain slowed him the point where he thought it was hurting his mechanics.
