Nationals LaRoche Requires Season Ending Surgery

The Washington Nationals have announced that first baseman Adam LaRoche’s injured shoulder will require season ending surgery.  The operation will take place Thursday and will determine the extent of the injury and how long LaRoche will be sidelined.

LaRoche has been out since late May, dealing with a tear in his labrum.  It was something the club knew was an issue coming into the season, but hoped that the first baseman could play through the injury. 

When that proved unsuccessful, Washington tried time off and injections.  LaRoche is still feeling about the same as he was when he first went on the disabled list, and the team has decided it’s time for surgery.

"“Everything we tried to do was trying to get Adam out there to try and produce this season,” Nationals’ medical director Wiemi Douoguih said. “As soon as we recognized that this was something more problematic, through our standard program, we shut him down, put him on anti-inflammatories, we then progress to an injection. We shut him down after that and gradually tried to work him back in after that. Everything we did was gradual, really textbook. Unfortunately, he was just not able to get through that and required surgery.”"

Best case scenario, LaRoche will be sidelined 3 to 4 months.  If more damage is discovered and additional surgery required, the 31 year old could miss 6 or 7 months.

"“If all goes right,” Rizzo said, “he will be 100 percent by the beginning of spring training next year.”"

While on the field, LaRoche had been pretty awful in his first year with the Nationals.  In 43 games, LaRoche put up a meager line of .172/.288/.258.  The team signed the first baseman to a 2 year $16 million deal this offseason.

Mike Morse has stepped up as the team’s regular first baseman, and will continue to man the position with LaRoche on the DL.

Morse has been one bright spot on a Nationals’ offense that’s been otherwise dormant.  The 29 year old leads the club with 10 home runs and 37 runs batted in to go along with an impressive line of .303/.347/.519.