Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan has knee surgery, slowing recovery from shoulder injury

Blue Jays RHP McGowan has knee surgery

TORONTO — Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan had surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his right knee earlier this month, the latest setback on his recovery from shoulder surgery.

McGowan, who was not pitched for Toronto this season, hurt his knee while doing conditioning drills in Florida and had surgery July 9.

General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Thursday that McGowan did not have any ligament damage but will need six weeks to recover, likely ensuring he will not return until spring training.

“I feel bad for the poor kid,” Ricciardi said. “He can’t stay healthy.”

McGowan had been pitching with a partially torn rotator cuff last season when he left a July 8 start against Baltimore because of pain. He had surgery to repair a frayed labrum July 31.

A four-year veteran, the 27-year old McGowan has a career record of 20-22 with a 4.71 ERA. He missed all but six games of the 2004 minor league season because of elbow ligament replacement surgery.

McGowan is one of six Blue Jays right-handers on the disabled list, along with Casey Janssen (shoulder), Jesse Litsch (elbow surgery), Shaun Marcum (elbow surgery), Robert Ray (shoulder) and Scott Richmond (shoulder).