DENVER _ Giants right-hander Mark Melancon confirmed that he would undergo surgery to alleviate chronic compartment syndrome in the pronator muscle in his right forearm.
The question is not whether he would have the procedure, but when.
"I guess that's the best way to put it: I need surgery, and I'm day to day," Melancon said. "I'm trying to last as long as I can."
Melancon said he wants to continue pitching through September and delay the surgery until after the season, for his own reasons as well as to aid a bullpen that he is being paid $62 million to anchor. But he acknowledged that the procedure would be scheduled sooner if he struggles to bounce back from outings or to be competitive.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy also hinted in recent days that Melancon's date with the scalpel could be imminent.
"It's day to day _ literally day to day," Melancon said.
The part that Melancon will not contest: he needs surgery. He has dealt all season with what the club has described as a strained pronator muscle, which is located where the forearm meets the elbow. The 32-year-old former All-Star closer revealed that he has been diagnosed with pronator syndrome, a condition in which the sheath that covers the muscle does not allow it to expand. As a result, his elbow constantly feels tight whether he is pitching or not.
Surgery would involve releasing the lacertus fibrosus and has a recovery time of two to three months.
"It's super tight, the whole compartment," Melancon said. "From what they say, I should be fine. ... There aren't a lot of cases like this, so it's a difficult thing to diagnose."
Former pitcher Kyle Lohse had a similar procedure done in May, 2010, and missed almost three months before returning in August of that season. He recovered well and became a productive pitcher again, going 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 188 for the St. Louis Cardinals the following season.
The Giants' own experience is less promising. Left-hander Noah Lowry was diagnosed with compartment syndrome in a forearm muscle after he felt numbness in his pitching hand and couldn't grip the ball in the spring of 2008. He underwent surgery to release the fascia, and did not throw another pitch in the big leagues. His agent later questioned whether the Giants misdiagnosed the pitcher; Lowry ended up having two other surgeries (one to remove bone spurs from his elbow, another to remove a rib) but was unable to resume his career.
Lowry's case is believed to be significantly different from Melancon's outlook, though.
Melancon said his medical file shows notations going back to 2012 in which he reported similar symptoms, but he never had an MRI exam to diagnose the issue because the discomfort would subside within a couple weeks.
"This year, it's never subsided," he said.
Melancon, who has been on the disabled list twice this season, is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA and 11 saves. He has yielded the closer role to right-hander Sam Dyson, although Manager Bruce Bochy has said the ultimate plan is to have Melancon back in the role for which the Giants signed him.
With three more pricy years on his contract, and the Giants in last place, why not have the surgery now? Is it for his own reasons, or does he believe he can benefit the team in some way?
"Both," Melancon said. "Being on the DL is the worst thing ever, and more so, I want to pitch. I don't want to go down and have these guys with one less guy to pitch."
Even with expanded rosters in September?
"Trust me, I understand that, too," Melancon said.
Melancon pitched around a walk while throwing a scoreless eighth inning in the Giants' 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
