ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves outfielder Ron Gant will miss the first month of the season recovering from a broken leg he suffered Thursday night in a motorbike accident.
Gant was brought to Piedmont Hospital at approximately 7:30 p.m. EST Thursday after breaking a bone in his lower right leg in the accident. He went into surgery at approximately 9 p.m. EST and the procedure, which was performed by Braves team physician Joe Chandler, lasted about 2 1/2 hours.
Gant suffered a compound fracture of the tibula and fibula. The surgery inserted a rod along the tibula from the knee to just above the ankle. Gant, who is expected to remain in the hospital for five to seven days, will wear a short cast and will need to use crutches for an undetermined period of time.
Gant will be out of action for at least three months but Chandler said he doesn't expect him to miss the entire season.
'I predict him to make a full recovery. In my opinion it is not likely to be a career-threatening injury,' Chandler said.
Gant's name surfaced last week in a negative light when a report out of Texas linked him to a criminal investigation in his hometown of Victoria, Texas.
According to reports, Gant and childhood friend Stephen Gaskin have been sued by a 16-year-old girl, who charged the two men with conspiring to have sex with her and another teenager.
The suit accuses only Gaskin of having sexual intercourse. Gant is charged in the suit with 'encouragement, aid and assistance.'
The 28-year-old Gant hit .274 with career highs in home runs (36) and RBI (117) for the National League West champion Braves last season. Gant has a career batting average of .262 with 147 homers and 480 RBI in seven major-league seasons.
