By Bill Center

Left-handed pitcher Cory Luebke had surgery Thursday to re-position a nerve in his twice reconstructed left elbow and will be sidelined for four-to-six weeks.

That was the top piece of news Friday as Padres manager Pat Murphy held his first post-All-Star Game media briefing before the Padres opened the “second half” with the first of three games against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.

“The surgery was to take pressure off the nerve… It had slipped out of the tunnel built for it,” Murphy said of Luebke’s surgery.

Luebke has not pitched in the Major Leagues since the opening weeks of the 2012 season before having the first of two rounds of Tommy John surgery. He made seven, one-inning rehab appearances through the first week of July in his rehab from 2014’s second round before experiencing pain in the elbow.

Luebke is expected to resume a throwing program before the season is over.

Murphy offered updates on other rehabbing players as well:

Outfielder Wil Myers participated in the Padres voluntary workout Thursday and flew to Arizona Friday morning to get a final doctor’s clearance to resume baseball activities. Myers had surgery June 18 to remove a bone spur from his left wrist. Murphy said he hopes Myers will return to the Padres lineup by mid-August after a rehab assignment.

Right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow threw a bullpen session at Petco Park Friday afternoon and is awaiting being dispatched on a rehab assignment. He hasn’t pitched since May 2 due to right shoulder inflammation and had an earlier rehab assignment shut down. “We are close to making a decision on his rehab assignment,” said Murphy.

Cory Spangenberg’s bone bruise to his left knee has been described as “significant” and he has yet to resume baseball activities. Spangenberg has been out since June 27th. “He is doing some movement drills, but you can’t rush it,” said Murphy.

Right-handed pitcher Josh Johnson has not progressed past the strengthening process for his rehab from a second Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, Will Middlebrooks will get his third straight start at shortstop Friday night. “His range is very good,” Murphy said of the third baseman. “We will have to live with some mistakes,” said Murphy. “This won’t be an every-day thing.”

Murphy said he spent the break in San Diego with his family.

When asked what he has learned from his first 24 games as manager, Murphy said: “There are no bad teams. It’s even more competitive than I thought. The pitchers are really capable.”

When asked if the 10-game homestand the Padres opened Friday night was ‘make-or-break,’ Murphy responded: “Every game is important. One loss does not knock you out of it, one win won’t pop us back in.”