Paul Konerko to have surgery on hand this offseason

Chicago White Sox captain Paul Konerko will have surgery in the offseason to remove a bone fragment from his hand. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko will have surgery this offseason to get a floating bone fragment taken out of his hand, he told ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine. Konerko has played with the fragment in his hand since 2009.

"It is something I need to take care of," Konerko told Levine. "I don't feel it has impacted anything I've done this year. It is just time to get it out of the way."

Konerko's surgery will likely come earlier than he would have hoped, as the White Sox were officially eliminated from playoff contention Monday night when the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals.

The Chicago captain Konerko has hit .299 with 25 homers, 73 RBI and an .853 OPS this season despite occasional flare-ups from the hand that require shots and other treatment.