Baldelli to Have Knee Surgery

[Chisox73]

According to Yahoo sports,Devil Rays OF Rocco Baldelli will undergo knee surgery on Friday.He hurt his knee playing baseball with his younger brother Dante in the backyard of his Rhode Island home.

No details of how severe his injury is.

According to Baldelli,he jammed his leg playing ball and tried to ice it down.After a few days,the pain did not subside,then he went to get some help.

Baldelli hit .280 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs for the Devil Rays in 2004.

[Panzram]

Hopefully Rocco will be back for Spring training.

[yagsy]

Please oh please don't let this be another Boone incident! Any word about how long he'll be out or what exactly was the injury?

[Baseball Guru]

ROGER MOONEY

Herald Staff Writer


He's crashed into fences and dived on to hard, artificial turf in pursuit of line drives. He's slid into bases and has been drilled by fastballs. And the worst Rocco Baldelli had to show for any of it was a strained quadriceps that led to a stint on the disabled list last season.

But while playing baseball in the backyard of his family's home, Baldelli planted his left leg while trying to avoid a collision with his 7-year-old brother, Dante, and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

Go figure.

The irony isn't lost on Baldelli.

"I got through four or five seasons without getting seriously hurt throwing my body around and then this happens in my own backyard," Baldelli said.

Baldelli, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays center fielder, tore the ACL on Oct. 24 on the baseball field his father, Dan, built behind their Cumberland, R.I. home. Icing the joint and staying off the leg didn't seem to help so, after flying to St. Petersburg for an examination with the Rays medical staff, Baldelli was sent to the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Co., for reconstructive surgery, which took place Nov. 5.

The surgeon, Dr. Richard Steadman, has performed the same surgery on the likes of Dan Marino, John Elway, Joe Montana, Willis McGahee and Picabo Street.

Baldelli, who will remain at the clinic until Saturday, will miss anywhere between six and nine months.

"I kind of listen to the people who know all about these injuries," Baldelli said on the timetable for his return. "I'm not going to say it's going to be sooner or later then what they say."

Baldelli is rehabing the knee twice a day for 90 minutes each session. During the remaining hours, he keeps the leg in a continuous passive motion machine that moves and extends the knee while providing cool therapy.

Other than a bout with altitude sickness that forced him to sleep with an oxygen mask, Baldelli said the surgery and rehab have gone smoothly.

Rays general manager Chuck LaMar, currently attending the general managers' meetings, will have to decide whether to seek a trade for a temporary center fielder, move Carl Crawford from left to center and trade for a left fielder, or hope that Joey Gathright, Jonny Gomes or Matt Diaz can fill the void.

Baldelli said he knew something was wrong when the injury occurred. He just didn't think it would turn out as serious as it did. Dante hit the ball to him and was running to first base when Baldelli tried to avoid a collision with his younger - and much smaller - brother.

"The knee felt like it kind of bent to the left," Baldelli said. "I've seen people on TV who have blownout their knee and they look in serious pain, but it didn't hurt that much."

[yagsy]

Great, just great! I was hoping that he wouldn't be out THAT long! That just stinks! :angry:

I hope he gets better SOON!

Thanks James for finding the info!

[Chisox73]

That sucks to see Baldelli outn that long.Especially a freak accident like that.i bet his younger brother feels just awful right now.

I would like to see Carl Crawford in CF next year.That would probably be the Rays best bet right now,and trade for a left fielder.

[yagsy]

I so agree with you. Left Fielders are easier to find, cost less for a good one in comparison, I would think. I've heard the DRays have some talent within the ranks but prolly not ready for the Majors. Have to wait and see what they'll do.