ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Texas Rangers All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler might be able to avoid season-ending surgery for a sports hernia after receiving an encouraging diagnosis from a specialist Tuesday.
Kinsler was examined by Dr. John Preskitt at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Kinsler said the doctor told him there was probably no torn muscle in the left side of his groin area.
Kinsler was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday and will be examined again in a week. If he shows progress, there’s a chance he could return to the lineup at the end of his DL stint.
“Hopefully it’ll get better in a few weeks and go from there,” Kinsler said. “Surgery is definitely not on my lifetime check list, so I don’t want to end up going under. Hopefully I can get back on the field in a couple of weeks.”
Even if Kinsler does need surgery, postponing it now won’t be that big a setback. Recovery time from a sports hernia operation is six to eight weeks, so he could be cleared for baseball activities in plenty of time for spring training.
Kinsler said the injured area improved overnight.
“On Monday it was really sore,” Kinsler said. “Today when I woke up I could actually sit up in bed rather than roll out the side and fall on my face.”
Kinsler leads the majors in runs (102) and paces Texas in batting average (.319), doubles (41) and stolen bases (26).
The return of the Rangers’ leadoff hitter would be a bonus, manager Ron Washington said.
“It’s not 100 percent that he’ll be ready, but it’s not 100 percent that he’ll have an operation,” Washington said. “We’ve got that in between, those two weeks to find out.”
Kinsler was injured against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night.
While Kinsler is out, Ramon Vazquez and rookie Joaquin Arias will platoon at second base.
Add A Comment