O's Hobgood is headed for season-ending surgery

Orioles 2009 first-round draft pick Matt Hobgood is going to have season-ending surgery on his right rotator cuff after getting a second opinion from a doctor on his ailing shoulder. Hobgood, who said he had not felt right or truly free of discomfort since beginning his pro career, will be operated on April 2 by Dr. Craig Morgan of Wilmington, Del., a shoulder specialist. After an offseason where he seemed to make some progress in rehabbing his shoulder injury, Hobgood was recently shut down at training camp after feeling pain when throwing a live batting practice session. He saw Morgan after seeing Orioles doctors recently and a club source insisted to MASNSports.com then that surgery was not being recommended for the 21-year-old right-hander who has been unable to recapture the mid-90s fastball velocity that he once could reach during his high school days. Last year, Hobgood, the fifth overall selection in 2009, went 0-6 with an ERA of 8.76 between the Gulf Coast League O's and the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds as he tried to work his way back from the injury. He didn't get into an affiliated game until June 20 and pitched just 37 innings, allowing 51 hits with 26 walks and 22 strikeouts. He is 4-15 with a 5.48 ERA in his Orioles career since joining Rookie League Bluefield in the summer of 2009. The news of Hobgood's surgery was first reported by the Baltimore Sun.