By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Adobe Acrobat file (260k) shows detailed information about Griffey and Dempster's surgeries. | ZOOM |

Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and pitcher Ryan Dempster will begin rehabilitating today after both underwent surgery Monday at Beacon Orthopaedic Center.

The procedures confirmed suspicions of more significant injuries to both players.

Team medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek repaired a torn labrum in Griffey's right shoulder, which he injured diving for a ball April 5.

But Kremchek also found and repaired a 50-percent tear of the rotator cuff in the shoulder.

Griffey's father, Ken Sr., was among those who observed the surgery.

"What we fixed today and what we saw in there certainly was more than we thought," Kremchek said. "And it certainly was a reason why, I'm sure, he had pain.

"But we weren't clueless in this. We scoped him for a reason."

Griffey missed just 37 games after dislocating the shoulder, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury July 17.

He had surgery to repair a torn tendon in the ankle the following day.

In the 48 games between injuries, playing with a shoulder doctors knew needed to be operated on after the season, Griffey batted .245 with 12 homers and 25 RBI.

"This is a guy with a lot of pain tolerance," Kremchek said. "From what I saw in (the shoulder), I was surprised that he . . . had not re-dislocated it."

Slowed by an assortment of injuries since coming to the Reds in 2000, Griffey will have missed 208 games and played in 379 entering 2004.

"He's fixed up and I expect him to be 100 percent, I really do, for next year," Kremchek said. "It's an unfortunate and traumatic injury, but I think he's going to do quite well."

Griffey will require five to six months of intense rehabilitation, according to head trainer Mark Mann.

Kremchek removed a bone chip from behind Dempster's right elbow, but also found a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John ligament replacement surgery to repair.

Dempster, who had a 3-7 record and 6.54 ERA in 22 games this season, is not expected to pitch again until the latter half of the 2004 season.

In his last start, against the Phillies on July 28, Dempster allowed three runs and walked four in 5 2/3 innings.

"We knew there was something big going on," Kremchek said. "We had a very good suspicion, but just didn't let that be known publicly.

"I don't think there's any question that it affected his pitching. Certainly getting in there and fixing him up is going to help him in the long run."

Dempster faces a difficult and uncertain road ahead.

His $3.25-million contract ends after this season. He is arbitration eligible.

"This means there won't be any decision on his long-term future with the organization until a new general manager is in place," Reds assistant general manager Brad Kullman said.

"I think there would be a mutual desire to see if there's a way for him to come back if it made sense. There's obviously some risk involved with him coming back from surgery."

Since being traded to the Reds in July 2002, Dempster is 8-12 with a 6.39 ERA in 37 games and 204 1/3 innings.

"He's been as frustrated as anyone with his struggles since he's been with the organization," Kullman said.

HAYNES TO THE DL: After allowing six runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Giants on Sunday, starting pitcher Jimmy Haynes was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his lower back.

Haynes, 2-12 with a 6.30 ERA in 18 starts, was on the DL with the same injury from April 17-May 26.

The Reds likely will promote either Aaron Harang or Brandon Claussen from Triple-A Louisville, or Josh Hall from Double-A Chattanooga to take Haynes' place in the rotation.

Harang and Claussen were acquired in trades last week. Hall made his major league debut against the Giants Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings.