Angels first baseman Kendrys Morales to undergo second surgery and miss entire season
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Kendrys Morales has elected to undergo a second surgery on the left ankle he broke last May 29, a procedure that will sideline the Angels first baseman for the entire 2011 season.
“It’s definitely a challenge for us not having Kendry in the middle of our lineup; it’s a significant blow,” Angels General Manager Tony Reagins said. “But having gone through most of last season without him, the team has learned how to deal with it and move forward. We’ve had adversity before, and we will have it again.”
The procedure, to be performed by Dr. Thomas Clanton, a Colorado foot-and-ankle specialist at a date that hasn’t been determined, will be to clean up scar tissue and remove several degenerative cysts that have developed in the joint.
“The fracture has healed completely, but these are the consequences of a devastating injury,” said Dr. Lewis Yocum, team physician. “One option was to continue the conservative course with therapy and rehabilitation, but we’re trying to gear him up for next season.”
Yocum said the second procedure will require a minimum of six months for recovery.
Morales, who has not played since breaking the ankle when he jumped into home plate in celebration of a walk-off home run, has been under the care of Yocum and Dr. Phil Kwong, a foot-and-ankle specialist at the Kerlan-Jobe clinic.
His recovery had stalled to the point where he was shut down in early May and took a cortisone injection — his second in three months — to ease the inflammation and discomfort. He still has not taken turns on the bases or run straight ahead at full speed.
Morales traveled to Vail for a Tuesday meeting with Clanton, an orthopedic surgeon and director of foot-and-ankle sports medicine at the Steadman Clinic. Clanton has served as team physician for the NBA’s Houston Rockets and NFL’s Houston Texans.
“I knew there would be big issues along the way, but I wasn’t ready to have surgery again,” Morales said through a translator. “I would like to be on the field, but I think this is the best decision for us at this point.”
For more on Morales later this evening, go to latimes.com
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-- Mike DiGiovanna