Lakeland, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Detroit Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks is slated to undergo back surgery next Monday that will likely leave him sidelined for up to 12 weeks.
The procedure, known as microdiscectomy, will be performed by Dr. Thomas Tolli in St. Petersburg, Fla. and will leave Dirks unable to resume baseball activities for at least six weeks.
The 28-year-old outfielder will undergo rest and therapeutic rehabilitation before resuming baseball activities.
Dirks appeared in a career-high 131 games with Detroit last season and batted .256 with nine home runs and 37 RBI. He's a career .276 hitter with 24 homers and 100 RBI in 297 games over three big league seasons with the Tigers.
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