MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn ended last year in the minor leagues, and it appears doubtful that he'll start the 2013 season in the majors.
The team announced Monday that Blackburn will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist Wednesday at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The surgery means that Blackburn will be in a cast for six weeks, which means he will miss the first few weeks of spring training next month.
It's the second surgery for Blackburn this offseason. He also had a bone chip removed from his right elbow in late October.
Blackburn, 30, was 4-9 with a 7.39 ERA last season in 19 starts with the Twins. The right-hander also made seven starts for Triple-A Rochester and was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Blackburn was taken off the 40-man roster late in the season but was given an invite to major league spring training.
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