St. Petersburg, FL -- (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival underwent back surgery this week and is expected to be ready by opening day for the American League champions.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins in California on Tuesday and was deemed successful.

Three stints on the disabled list limited Percival, 39, to just 50 games last season and kept the veteran right-hander off the Rays' postseason roster. He posted a 2-1 record with a 4.53 earned run average and led the team with 28 saves in 32 opportunities.

Percival ranks eighth all-time in saves with 352.