Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has opted to undergo reconstructive surgery on his left knee to repair the torn medial patellar ligament, according Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
Machado injured his knee running to first base in the seventh innning of the Orioles' game on Sept. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays. After the initial MRI results, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reported that it appeared surgery would not be needed and Machado would lose just six-to-eight weeks with the injury.
His decision to undergo surgery changes that time to six-to-eight months and could cost him most of spring training as well as the beginning of the 2014 season. Machado will undergo the surgery on Monday, Ghiroli reports.
The 21-year-old Machado was a key contributor for the Orioles in 2013, leading the American League in doubles with 51 and hitting .283/.314/.432 in his first full season with the team.
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