ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers right-hander Eric Hurley, a former first-round pick who made his major league debut last year, will likely miss the 2009 season after surgery Wednesday to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Hurley experienced soreness in his shoulder midway through last season. He had an injection in his shoulder in August and did rehabilitation through December, but the soreness didn't go away.

"We were hopeful that rehab would allow Eric to avoid surgery. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way," general manager Jon Daniels said. "I thought he could have impacted our club this year, but with the proper program, that should be realistic for the following season."

Instead of participating in a winter development camp this week as scheduled, Hurley consulted with doctors and had the surgery on his rotator cuff and labrum.

Dr. Keith Meister, the team's physician, said the shoulder was not as bad as expected, but Hurley will not resume a throwing program for three to four months.

The 23-year-old Hurley, a first-round pick in 2004, was 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA in his five starts for the Rangers last season. He made his major league debut June 12 at Kansas City.