Barry Larkin, who was hopeful of playing some more this season, learned before Tuesday's game against San Francisco that he is done for the year.

        “We tentatively have him scheduled to be operated on Aug.24,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden told The Enquirer before the game.

        Larkin learned of the news when The Enquirer asked him about Bowden's comments.

        “He's finished for the year,” Bowden said. “The most important thing is to try to get him ready for next year.”

Reds right-hander Pete Harnisch will have exploratory surgery on his throwing elbow in the next few days and also will miss the remainder of the season, Kremchek announced during Tuesday's Reds game. Harnisch was not immediately available for comment.

        Larkin seemed mildly surprised to be getting his own news from a reporter before the game and shook his head. A few minutes earlier he had been talking optimistically of maybe returning to the lineup. But the news itself didn't surprise him.

        Larkin said he would meet with Bowden and Reds medical director Tim Kremchek before anything was officially announced, which it was at about 7:30 p.m.

        The surgery will be on his hernia. His injured groin will get healthy on its own.

        Larkin had been examined Tuesday by Dr. JoAnn Lohr (who along with Kremchek will do the surgery) and she could physically feel the tear in his abdominal wall.

        “We decided to wait until the 24th because one of the things you want to do when you repair a sports hernia is to make sure there is no other inflammation or other types of muscular problems,” Kremchek said.

        If not for the fast start Larkin and the Reds had gotten off to this season, he said he might have shut it down much sooner.

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