The Baltimore Orioles confirmed on Sunday that third baeman Manny Machado will begin the 2014 season on the disabled list.
Machado, 21, has been able to run but is still weeks away from returning to the lineup for the Orioles. He underwent surgery in October for a torn medial patellofemoral ligament in his left knee.
While Machado is out of action the Orioles will turn to Ryan Flaherty at third base.
“We’ve got a pretty good idea about how much time it would take,” Showalter said. “From here on out, the next time you’ll see him will be in Frederick, Bowie, Norfolk. … We may even work him out of our locker room. I think that’s probably where we’re headed. But he’s made a lot of strides. He’s getting close. [The pain was] almost completely gone today. So I think it’s good for him to kind of start getting in that frame of mind now.” manager Buck Showalter told the Baltimore Sun.
When healthy, Machado will look to improve upon his .283/.314/.432 line with 14 home runs and 71 RBI and 88 runs scored.
