New York, NY

The New York Yankees have announced that the surgery on third baseman Alex Rodriguez's damaged left hip "went as planned and without complication", expecting their $275-million slugger to return after the All-Star break.

Dr. Bryan Kelly performed the surgery to repair a torn labrum and an impingement in Rodriguez's hip socket.

The third baseman is expected to be released from the hospital Thursday and will begin a supervised rehabilitation program under Kelly and a physical therapist.

It is expected that Rodriguez will have a full recovery in six months, putting his return right around his 38th birthday on July 27.

Rodriguez, who has $114 million and five years remaining on his contract, also underwent hip surgery prior to the 2009 season to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.

Kelly earlier expressed optimism that Rodriguez will be back after the All-Star break in 2013.

"The big question is, how much cartilage damage is there, and how much unfixable damage is there?" Kelly then said, describing the two-hour operation as "very technically challenging."

In their news release, the Yankees did not mention the extent of cartilage damage deep inside Rodriguez's hip.

Due to his hip problem, Rodriguez struggled in October, hitting just 5-for-43 with 18 strikeouts and was pinch-hit for three times.

Copyright © 2013 AHN - All Rights Reserved