CHICAGO -- San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior was in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday to have his surgically repaired right shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews.
The Padres will wait a few days before making any determinations on the former Chicago Cubs ace, but it's doubtful Prior will be able to return to the majors by San Diego's target date of June 1.
"We'll know more probably over the weekend or maybe into early next week about the plan for Mark as we move into the summer," manager Bud Black said.
When Prior felt discomfort in his shoulder at extended spring training in Arizona last week, he was sent back to San Diego for an MRI exam
"It's frustrating for him," Black said. "I think he had high expectations and hopes bouncing back from the surgery, especially how he felt in spring training."
Prior, who is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA in his career, last pitched in 2006 when he went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine games for the Cubs. He was the second overall pick of the 2001 amateur draft and went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in his first full year in the big leagues, finishing third in the Cy Young Award balloting.
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