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'Shocked' Matsuzaka Says Tommy John Surgery His Only Option

BOSTON (AP) - Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is preparing for surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow.

Matsuzaka spoke Sunday for the first time since the Red Sox placed him on the 60-day disabled list so he can have Tommy John surgery, likely this week.

"It's my first time to get an operation and all I can say is I'm very shocked when it comes to this result," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "I was told the ligament is torn and to fix it perfectly I need to have surgery."

Matsuzaka is in the fifth year of a six-year deal he signed when Boston brought him over from Japan. With a recovery time of 12 to 14 months, his future with the Red Sox is uncertain.

"I don't think of it that way. I hope I come back to the game again in a Red Sox uniform," he said.

Matsuzaka went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA in his first season with the Red Sox, who paid $51.1 million for negotiating rights to the Seibu Lions before signing him to a $52 million deal.

The $103 million "Dice-K" investment has had mixed results. After going 31-15 with a 3.72 ERA in his first two seasons, Matsuzaka was 16-15 with a 5.03 ERA the past three years and had four stints on the disabled list.

In eight appearances this year, including seven starts, he is 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA. In his career with Boston, he is 49-30 with a 4.25 ERA.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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