Machado to undergo knee surgery

.283 Batting average, 14 home runs, 71 runs batted in, and web gem after web gem.  These four statistics will be just some of what the Baltimore Orioles will potentially miss after third baseman Manny Machado decided to undergo reconstructive knee surgery, Thursday.

Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The second-year player suffered an ugly knee injury while attempting to beat out a ground ball late in September.  The Orioles were in the thick of the American League wild card prior to Machado’s injury, and faded without their star.  Machado had hoped to avoid the surgery, and believed time would heal the injury, however, doctors told him surgery was essential in order to recover to full strength.

Now, Machado will undergo surgery on his left medial petellofemural ligament, and hopes around the organization are that Machado will return some time prior to the start of spring training come mid-February.  Machado faces a four- six month rehabilitation process ahead of him, but expect Machado to be ready for Spring Training.

On another injury note, Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen underwent successful knee surgery to remove small bone spurs in his left shin.  Chen, like Machado, is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of spring training.