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After arriving to camp this morning, Mets 2008 first rounder and top prospect 2B Reese Havens revealed to Adam Rubin that he underwent offseason surgery about eight weeks ago to relieve pressure on his oblique. The talented, yet oft-injured Havens missed the final three months of 2010 with a re-aggravation of an old oblique injury.
Specifically, Havens had an inch shaved off of one of his ribs after he was diagnosed with 'Rib-Tip Syndrome' where (you guessed it) the tip of the rib was causing irritation to the oblique. A specialist at the Birmingham, AL clinic of noted sports surgeon Dr. James Andrew performed the procedure.
This is interesting news since the last time we saw Havens, Mets officials had dismissed the idea of offseason surgery; although that was back surgery. Who knows if this will solve Havens' injury problems but at the very least Havens has stated that he feels great and has already begun hitting and other baseball activities. Slated to start back in Double-A Binghamton, Havens' health status bears watching as one of the biggest topics in the Mets farm system coming into 2011.