Hanshin Tigers reliever Jeff Williams has had surgery in an Arizona hospital to repair his left shoulder joint, the club said Thursday.
Williams will begin rehabilitation there within days, and it is not yet known how long he will need to make a full recovery.
The former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander might be released by Hanshin since the club has an option on his contract for next season.
In late August, senior club official Shoji Numazawa said, "We just don't know what to do about next season unless we get a realistic timetable for his return."
Williams helped Hanshin win the Central League titles in 2003 and 2005, forming the so-called "JFK" bullpen trio with Kyuji Fujikawa and Tomoyuki Kubota.
He is 1-1 with a 3.58 ERA in 31 appearances in his seventh season in Japan.
Darvish update
CHIBA (Kyodo) Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Masataka Nashida said Thursday he plans to start ace Yu Darvish in Sunday's home game against the Lotte Marines.
"I wondered whether I should start him Sunday or Wednesday," Nashida said. "I decided the sooner, the better."
Darvish was removed from the active roster on Aug. 22 with fatigue in his right shoulder, a day after giving up six runs in eight innings for his fifth loss of the season.
He is 14-5 with a Pacific League-best 1.70 ERA in 21 starts this year.