According to multiple major league sources, Kevin Youkilis will likely undergo surgery Tuesday for the sports hernia that plagued the third baseman throughout the second half of the 2011 season. Youkilis, however, will first confer with doctors regarding non-surgical options.
If Youkilis does undergo the surgical procedure, it is expected he will be able to begin physical activities in 4-6 weeks, with no limitations anticipated heading into spring training.
The 32-year-old finished '11 hitting .258 with a .833 OPS in 120 games, having carried the best OPS of any third baseman in baseball through July and earning his third career All-Star berth. Youkilis was limited to just 12 games in August (hitting .209) and 10 games in September, when he went just 6-for-36 without a home run before being shut down Sept. 15.
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