BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox confirmed Thursday that they are replacing Dr. William Morgan, who performed the unprecedented procedure credited with keeping Curt Schilling in the playoff rotation.

The team said in a statement that it plans to appoint a new medical director and use an array of specialists to care for Red Sox players.

“We are fortunate to live and work in a city with world-class physicians, and we will seek the best for our players,” Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said.

Schilling hurt his right ankle near the end of the regular season and struggled in Game 1 of the AL championship series against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox scratched him from his scheduled Game 5 start and said he needed surgery that would end his season.

But Morgan, after testing the unprecedented procedure on a cadaver, made a wall of stitches in Schilling’s ankle to keep the tendon in place and Schilling was able to start Game 6.

With blood seeping through his sock, Schilling beat the Yankees, catapulting the Red Sox to an improbable comeback and their first World Series title since 1918.

“I’m obviously very, very sorry to see him leave,” Schilling said Monday. “I don’t think we would have won the World Series had he not been there.”

Schilling said he will continue to consult with Morgan.