The doctor who examined Michael Jordan's ailing shoulder would "rather not speculate" on a timetable for the outfielder's return to the Birmingham Barons.
Dr. James Andrews diagnosed Jordan as having a mildly strained rotator cuff and mildly sprained shoulder capsule. He told Jordan to begin rehabilitating the arm immediately and to return for a follow-up exam next Monday."His return to baseball this season will be determined by how fast the shoulder responds to rehab," Andrews said after Jordan was examined at the Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center.
Jordan flew to Chicago after undergoing an MRI at Andrews' office.
Jordan, who suffered only one serious injury in his nine-year NBA career, hurt himself Friday diving awkwardly for a fly ball in a game at Huntsville.
A scoring champion for seven straight seasons in the NBA, Jordan was batting only .192 for the Double-A Southern League Barons. Despite constant struggles with off-speed pitches at the plate, he had shown some speed with 26 stolen bases and some emerging power, with his first two home runs in a span of three games.
Bill Hardekopf, president of the Barons, said he wanted Jordan back in the lineup as soon as possible.
"It's pretty good news," he said. "I'm relieved for Michael's sake. . . . He's an important cog in the wheel."
Jordan said he was "very glad that the injury was not serious."
The injury could again scuttle plans for Jordan's first televised baseball game. ESPN, seeking filler during the major league players strike, televised the Barons' game against the Memphis Chicks on Sunday, but Jordan was not in the lineup.
Next Sunday, the cable sports network may show Birmingham's game against the Chattanooga Lookouts only if Jordan is playing.
"As of now, we want to see about Michael Jordan's status before making a decision," an ESPN representative said Monday night.