When last we heard of the Achilles injury that Ryan Howard suffered making the final out of the Phillies’ NLDS series loss to the Cardinals, the team was optimistic that Howard might be able to play as soon as April.
Ryan Howard Injury: Phillies Star Has Additional ‘Procedure’ On Injured Achilles
Those hopes might now be dashed. Danny Knobler:
The Phillies won’t say Ryan Howard had a “setback.”
They will say that they’re not sure when he’ll be able to resume workouts.
However they phrase it, it can’t be great news that Howard’s surgically repaired Achilles tendon became infected.
A procedure was done on the infection on Monday; Knobler reports that the Phillies say the repaired tendon is “intact and not compromised”, though Phillies trainer Scott Sheridan is quoted as saying, “It’ll be like a new wound.”
There’s no timetable for Howard’s return; he had been taking batting practice and taking part in limited other drills, but whether the Phillies formally call this a “setback” or not, clearly, that’s exactly what it is.
John Mayberry Jr. and Jim Thome are among players who will fill in at first base until Howard can return. Whenever that is.
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