Sat May 17 10:28:33 2008

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Another setback for Prior

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Mark Prior has suffered another setback in his troublesome right shoulder.

The Padres pitcher has a tear in the capsule of the shoulder, his agent confirmed to MLB.com late Friday night. The former Cubs hurler had an examination and an MRI done by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama on Wednesday. Andrews performed surgery on the shoulder in April 2007.

Prior will be shut down for a few weeks as his shoulder heals. It's not clear how long he will be sidelined, but it is doubtful that he will make his targeted return of June.

The talented but oft-injured pitcher, who signed a one-year, $1-million contract with his hometown club in the offseason, missed the entire 2007 season after the surgery in April. His last major league action came with the Chicago Cubs during the 2006 season, when he went 1-6 with a 7.21 earned run average.

Over his five-year career -- all with the Cubs -- Prior is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA, 757 strikeouts and 223 walks, while limiting opponents to a .235 average in 106 starts. He went 18-6 with a 2.43 earned run average in 2003, fanning 245 in 211 1/3 innings, but has yet to regain that form since.