ACL tear sidelines Baldelli

The Rays star, injured in a family baseball game, will have surgery today and could be out nine months.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published November 5, 2004

All he was trying to do was avoid running over his little brother. But when Devil Rays centerfielder Rocco Baldelli sidestepped Dante as both rushed for first base during a backyard baseball game, Baldelli's left knee gave out.

The result, Tampa Bay team physician Koco Eaton said, was a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that could keep Baldelli sidelined until July.

"Six months is the minimum before he's out on the field," Eaton said Thursday. "It might be as long as nine months."

"He's a realist and he's been in good spirits," said Baldelli's father, Dan. "He knows what he has to do."

Baldelli's surgery today in Vail, Colo., will be performed by Dr. Richard Steadman, who has operated on the knees of numerous athletes, including Olympic skier Bode Miller.

Eaton said that all things being equal, Baldelli should make a full recovery.

"Rocco," he said, "is in very good hands."

Still, it is a brutal blow for the Rays.

Baldelli, 23, is one of the major leagues' bright young stars. He batted .280 last season with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs, and tied for fourth in the American League with 11 outfield assists after leading the league in 2002-03 with 14.

It was expected Baldelli would hit at least 20 home runs next season, crucial for a team starved for consistent offense.

Losing him also throws a glitch into deciding how to spend a limited amount of money during the winter for what was supposed to be an offensive upgrade but now must include patching a gaping hole.

General manager Chuck LaMar reserved judgment.

"We don't know the extent of the injury yet," he said.

Baldelli did not return calls to his cell phone. Dan, who is in Colorado, said his son was in the doctor's office most of the day for pre-op testing and preparation.

The injury occurred Oct. 24 at the family house in Cumberland, R.I., where Baldelli stays in the offseason. Dan said Baldelli was pitching. Dante, who turns 7 Sunday, hit a ground ball.

"Rocco said he fielded the ground ball and took off for the bag, raced him for the bag," Dan said. "He realized there was going to be a collision type of thing and tried to sidestep him. He planted his foot wrong and said it felt like the bottom of his leg left the top of his leg and that was it."

Dan said Rocco did not believe the injury serious. He iced the knee for a few days but the pain and swelling did not subside.

"He said it felt funny as he walked," Dan said. "It felt like it was giving out as he walked on it."

Dan said Rocco underwent an MRI in Providence, R.I., and last weekend met with Eaton in St. Petersburg.

Eaton said he confirmed the diagnosis, though there always is a chance damage undetected by the MRI could be found. Whatever the prognosis, Eaton said Baldelli's age, health and conditioning will help his rehabilitation.

"And Rocco is a very smart kid," Eaton said. "He realizes, as I tell the athletes, surgery is maybe only 15 percent of the overall solution to your returning to the field. The other 85 percent is working on his therapy. Rocco has a lot of hard work cut out for him."

"I'm just happy he's not down," Dan said. "I'm probably a lot more down, and his mother. We're his parents. We're probably a lot more affected by this than he is."

Baldelli's mother, Michelle, agreed.

"Rocco deals with things very maturely," she said. "No hysterics. "I'm going to take care of it and work my butt off to get back.' "

[Last modified November 5, 2004, 01:26:06]