Torii Hunter to have surgery to repair sports hernia

Torii Hunter will undergo surgery on Monday in Dallas to repair a sports hernia, an injury the Angels center fielder expects to fully recover from by the start of spring training next February.

The nine-time Gold Glove Award winner originally suffered the right groin injury in late May when he crashed into the wall at Dodger Stadium.

He aggravated the injury several times in June before going to the disabled list for five weeks from July 10 to Aug. 16.

“It was getting better after the season, but it was going so slow, I decided to get it checked out,” Hunter said Thursday by phone.

Despite missing 32 games and playing much of the season hurt, Hunter had career highs in batting average (.299) and on-base percentage (.366). He hit 22 home runs and had 90 RBIs.

Hunter, 34, was named to the American League All-Star team but was unable to attend the game because of his injury.

In Monday’s procedure, which will be performed at Baylor University Hospital, Dr. John Priskett will inject a glue-like substance, or “mesh,” over the damaged tendon in Hunter’s groin.

Doctors told Hunter, who is entering the third year of a five-year, $90-million contract, that he should be able to do his full winter workout routine six weeks after the procedure.

“They said 95% of these surgeries are completely successful, and if all goes well, this should never bother me again,” Hunter said.

-- Mike DiGiovanna