Feeling good about his season, Adams now heads for Tuesday surgery

Orioles infielder Ryan Adams has had just four at-bats since the middle of the month and has not played in a week as he deals with a sports hernia. He will undergo an operation next Tuesday and he said the recovery time is only a few weeks. He should have a normal offseason after that. He's been playing in some pain most of this year at Triple-A and here with the Orioles. "I thought it was a groin injury and we were treating it that way," Adams said. "For most of the year I had pain, but I played through it. Then, about three weeks ago it was starting to bother me pretty good. Richie (Bancells, O's trainer) took a look at it and said I had some of the symptoms of a hernia. The next day I had an MRI and it showed a tear in my lower abdomen." Adams is pleased this was the year he made the majors and felt he showed he might be able to help this club in the future, batting .281 in 29 games. "For me, it was huge. This year wasn't about numbers, I don't think I had to prove anything like that. It was more about getting here and learning and seeing the speed of the game. Getting experience in front of big stadiums and big crowds. So the next time I get my chance, I'll be that much more comfortable," he said. He felt he at least planted a seed or two this year to show he could possibly be one of Buck's nuggets moving forward. "I think so and I have a whole offseason to use what I've learned and continue to get better," Adams said. "I like to be busy in the offseason. A lot of working out and I get on the field pretty often in New Orleans. There are some indoor cages too and I'll be in there a lot."