BALTIMORE, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will be out six months after undergoing successful knee surgery, the team announced Monday.
Machado went under the knife to repair the medial patellofemoral ligament in his left knee at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles in a 75-minute procedure, a team statement indicated.
His approximate recovery time is six months, meaning the 21-year-old all-star will miss all of spring training with his return possibly delayed until well into the 2014 season.
Machado, who led the American League with 51 doubles in first full season, hurt the knee in gruesome Sept. 23 play against Tampa Bay when he landed awkwardly on first base and his knee buckled inward.
Orioles Executive Vice President Dan Duquette told The Baltimore Sun his return was "not going to be driven by the schedule. It's going to be driven by how well he comes along. ... I'm sure Manny will do everything he can to be ready [for Opening Day], but it's going to be determined by how it comes along."
