A-Rod undergoes surgery; July return possible

Alex Rodriguez's hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and an impingement in the socket went according to plan Wednesday, according to the Yankees.

The medical staff is hoping to have its third baseman back after the All-Star Game in July, the team announced in a release.

Dr. Bryan Kelly performed the procedure on Rodriguez's left hip at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Rodriguez will be released Thursday and begin a rehabilition program under Kelly's supervision. The normal recovery period is approximately six months.

Kelly had said before the surgery that he didn't know the extent of cartilage damage to Rodriguez's hip. No mention was made of Kelly's findings in the Yankees' announcement Wednesday.

"The biggest obstacle that I see is that we really have to manage a lot of issues," Kelly said last week. "I like to tell people six months is a reasonable time frame for return to play. It would be great if he returns faster. But it's possible it will take longer."

The hip might have been partly to blame for Rodriguez's postseason struggles last fall. He slumped to 5 for 43 in the playoffs with 18 strikeouts and was removed several times for a pinch hitter.

Rodriguez had similar surgery on his right hip in 2009.