SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Wednesday and the team expects him to be recovered by spring training.

	Hoffman

Dr. Lewis Yocum of the Anaheim Angels and Dr. Jan Fronek of the Padres repaired a slight tear in Hoffman's rotator cuff and removed debris, general manager Kevin Towers said.

Hoffman missed the final four games of the season with inflammation in the shoulder. He hoped that his shoulder would heal with rest.

"The discomfort was still there a week after the season, and we felt it was best to go in and have a scope done and at least know for sure,'' Towers said.

Hoffman is expected to start his rehabilitation on Friday, begin throwing by December and be ready for spring training, Towers said.

Hoffman, 35, ranks fifth on the career saves list with 352. He has never been on the disabled list, and he last had surgery after the 1995 season, also to smooth and clean his right rotator cuff.

He was 2-5 with 38 saves and a 2.73 ERA this season.