Phils' Howard suffers Achilles' tear
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard might miss the start of spring training and possibly part of the regular season after tearing an Achilles' tendon.
The power-hitting first baseman was injured on the final play of Philadelphia's season-ending loss to St. Louis in Game 5 of the NL division series Friday night, falling as he ran out of the batter's box on his groundout.
The team said Saturday night an MRI revealed a rupture of Howard's left Achilles tendon.
''He cannot have surgery until the swelling resolves, and it has not been determined who will perform the surgery,'' the Phillies said in a statement. ''Recovery time won't be known until after the surgery is complete, and there is no guarantee he will be ready for spring training.''
Injuries of that type usually require at least six months of recuperation. When soccer star David Beckham tore his Achilles' tendon on March 14 last year, he was sidelined until Sept. 11.
The voluntary reporting date for position players is in late February, and the Phillies open at Pittsburgh on April 5, two days shy of six months after Howard was hurt.
Howard, the 2006 NL MVP, batted .253 with a team-high 33 homers and 116 RBIs this season to help Philadelphia win its fifth straight NL East title. The Phillies set a club record with 102 wins.
Howard was 2 for 19 (.105) with a homer and six RBIs in the NL playoffs against the Cardinals. The slugger went 0 for 4 in the series finale as Chris Carpenter pitched St. Louis to a 1-0 victory, finishing off a stunning upset of the Phillies.
Philadelphia also said left-hander Cole Hamels will have loose bodies removed from his left elbow on Friday and another surgery a week later to repair a hernia.
Right fielder Hunter Pence and second baseman Placido Polanco will both have MRIs to evaluate their hernias. Polanco probably will have surgery and the scan will help determine what Pence needs.
First baseman Ross Gload probably will have arthroscopic surgery on his right hip after it is re-examined by Dr. Bryan Kelly.
-
2024 MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers or Phillies NL's best?
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani headline Ben Verlander’s Team of the Month
Ex-MLB player Monte Harrison, 28, plans to walk on with Arkansas football
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects
20 Best pitchers in MLB 2024: Ranking the top 20 starters
Walker Buehler returns, Shohei Ohtani homers again in Dodgers' win over Marlins
-
Purdue star, NBA Draft prospect Zach Edey throws out first pitch at Cubs game
2024 World Series odds: Dodgers remain atop oddsboard after sweeping Braves
Dodgers look like NL’s best after sweeping Braves — and now get another boost
-
2024 MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers or Phillies NL's best?
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani headline Ben Verlander’s Team of the Month
Ex-MLB player Monte Harrison, 28, plans to walk on with Arkansas football
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top prospects
20 Best pitchers in MLB 2024: Ranking the top 20 starters
Walker Buehler returns, Shohei Ohtani homers again in Dodgers' win over Marlins
-
Purdue star, NBA Draft prospect Zach Edey throws out first pitch at Cubs game
2024 World Series odds: Dodgers remain atop oddsboard after sweeping Braves
Dodgers look like NL’s best after sweeping Braves — and now get another boost