NewsMcCann likely headed to DL
Braves catcher may need second Lasik eye surgery
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
04/25/09 12:06 AM ET
CINCINNATI -- Having seen no improvement while attempting to exhaust all of the alternatives, Brian McCann has come to the realization that he'll likely need to once again undergo Lasik surgery to repair the vision in his left eye.After experiencing blurred vision in his left eye again during batting practice at Great American Ball Park on Friday night, McCann removed himself from the lineup. A few hours later, after the Braves claimed a 4-3 win over the Reds, he basically conceded that he'll be going on the disabled list on Saturday morning.
"I've been dealing with this since Opening Day, and I'd rather take a couple of weeks to get this thing squared away so that I can finish the season, instead of grinding it out every single day, not knowing what I'm going to get with my eyesight," McCann said. "It just got to the point where I wasn't helping my team or myself."
Clint Sammons will arrive in Cincinnati in time to serve as the backup catcher for Saturday afternoon's game against the Reds. But before activating Sammons, Braves manager Bobby Cox wants to see if McCann realizes unexpected improvement overnight.
"I don't think it's going to change," Cox said.
McCann will likely undergo another evaluation in Atlanta within the next few days. At that time, the All-Star catcher will learn if he has to repeat the Lasik surgical process that was initially performed on his eyes after the 2007 season.
"I'd rather take some time now and get this thing squared away than wait and it continue to not get better and we're sitting at the All-Star break and I still haven't produced," McCann said.
Dating back to Opening Night, McCann has been battling blurred vision in his left eye. He's attempted to remedy the ailment with eye drops, antibiotics and contact lenses.
After an eye specialist fitted him with a new contact lens in Washington on Tuesday, McCann felt optimistic that he would regain his vision after spending a few days getting comfortable with the lens.
But after emerging from the batting cage on Friday night, he indicated that his vision hasn't really improved.
"I feel like with my contact in, my eye every five seconds, it's blurry again," McCann said. "It's just dry and I'm not seeing good out of it."
McCann recorded six hits, including five for extra bases, during his first 16 at-bats this season. But the 25-year-old catcher has just two hits in the 26 at-bats that have followed.
While McCann is unavailable, the Braves will rely on veteran catcher David Ross, who had four hits, including a homer and a double, in the nine at-bats he'd compiled entering Friday night. Ross combined for 38 homers while playing for the Reds during the 2006 and '07 seasons.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
