The Baltimore Orioles were saddened to see young star Manny Machado injured at the end of the season after hurting his knee running to first base in a game in September and now the third baseman will face a lengthy rehab after undergoing surgery.
According to ESPN.com, Machado will have surgery next week on his left knee after tearing ligaments and the decision came after the team and the player looked at test results and felt that surgery was the best move. The report says that Machado injured his medial patellofemoral ligament against the Tampa Bay Rays after coming around first base, after which he collapsed and grabbed the knee in pain.
Machado had to be carted off the field and now he faces four to six months of rehab after the surgery and he also has questions about whether he will be the same player after having the procedure. Machado played a fantastic third base for the Orioles and he hit over .280 this season with 14 home runs and 71 RBIs with over 50 doubles.
The 21-year-old will have the surgery done by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and as one of the youngest players in baseball, the Orioles are hoping he can come back to full strength.
"I sent my MRI results to a couple of doctors and knee specialists and we decided that in the long run and for my future as a baseball player, this surgery would be the best plan," Machado said in a statement released by the team. "I will immediately begin the rehabilitation process in hopes of being ready for the start of Spring Training."
