Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval will undergo surgery on his left shoulder in the coming days and will miss the remainder of the season, a major league source said on Monday night.
Dr. James Andrew examined Sandoval, 29, at his clinic in Gulf Breeze, Fla., on Monday and it is Andrews who will perform the surgery.
The Red Sox reserved comment until after the surgery and did not reveal any timetable for recovery. The source said the surgery would be significant and require a lengthy rehabilitation period. The hope is that Sandoval would be ready for spring training in 2017.
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Sandoval lost his starting position in spring training, then played only three games before going on the disabled list April 13. At the time, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said an MRI showed “there was a great deal going on” in Sandoval’s shoulder.
Sandoval visited Andrews two weeks ago but a full examination was not possible because of inflammation. The Red Sox have listed the injury only as a strain.
Sandoval has hit .242 with a .651 OPS in 129 games for the Sox since being signed to a five-year, $95 million contract before the 2015 season. He has only 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in those games and played well below-average defense at third base.
Sandoval reported to spring training in what appeared to be poor physical condition but team officials, including Dombrowski and manager John Farrell, defended him.
Sandoval then lost his spot to Travis Shaw, who has hit .322 with a .923 OPS and started every game for the 15-10 Red Sox.
Sandoval was 0 for 6 with four strikeouts this season and played only 11 innings in the field. On April 9, Sandoval became a subject of widespread ridicule when his uniform belt broke while he was taking a swing during a game in Toronto.
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Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.