Kissimmee, Fla. --- It seems Braves reliever Kevin McGlinchy might lose another season to injury.

An MRI exam of McGlinchy's right shoulder Monday revealed a partial tear of his rotator cuff, meaning he could be lost for the season. He will have surgery today in Birmingham to repair the damage.

Braves assistant general manager Frank Wren said the injury happened when McGlinchy pitched against the Mets in Port St. Lucie Friday. McGlinchy gave up a run and two hits in one inning of relief, leaving after feeling something wrong with his shoulder.

"He said it didn't feel quite right and he was still throwing 90 mph," Wren said.

McGlinchy was taken to Birmingham to be examined by specialist James Andrews, who performed John Smoltz's successful ligament replacement surgery and will operate on McGlinchy.

Wren said the team should know how long McGlinchy will be out after the operation, but such an injury last May ended catcher Eddie Perez's season. His recovery time was set at 18 months.

McGlinchy, a Malden, Mass., native, has a brief history of arm problems. He missed most of last season with tendinitis in his right biceps. This was the third MRI McGlinchy has had in his career, but the first to show any kind of a tear. Because of his past, the news was not a total shock to the Braves, Wren said.

"We were not totally surprised, based on the fact that Kevin's had so much difficulty in the last year," Wren said. "In that respect, we were prepared for it better."

While McGlinchy had pitched in only one other spring game, giving up a hit and striking out one in one inning, the Braves were counting on him for a spot in the bullpen.