On Wednesday, Ryan Howard underwent surgery in Baltimore to repair his torn left Achilles tendon that he suffered on the final play in game 5 of the National League Division Series against St. Louis.According to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., the timetable for Howard to recover fully is just about what many people expected.
"It’s going to be 5 to 6 months from the surgery until he can play at his accustomed level," Amaro said in a statement released by the Phillies. "A lot depends on how he recovers. The start of the season could be impacted, but I still hope he makes his first at bat of the season."
Placido Polanco and Hunter Pence each had surgeries this week as well. Pence's surgery went well and he is recovering in Philadelphia, according to a Twitter update posted by the All-Star outfielder. For Polanco it is no wonder why his offensive production suffered down the stretch this season, as his procedure was for a double sports hernia.
Another Phillie set to go under the knife is lefty hurler Cole Hamels, who will have surgery on Friday to have "loose bodies" removed from his throwing elbow. Hamels is also expected to have a hernia issue of his own repaired after that.
And lastly, 2011 draft pick Austin Wright was granted permission recently to leave his Florida Instructional League assignment to be by the side of an ailing relative.
The left-hander had an exceptional debut season in the pros, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.03 ERA and a .234 batting average against in 15 combined games with short season Williamsport and Class A Lakewood. Wright, 22, was selected in the 8th round out of the University of Mississippi.
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