Manny Machado to start rehab assignment on Friday

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

For the young Baltimore infielder it has been a long and hard road back while recovering from surgery but finally the go-ahead to return to game action has been given. Sources tell me that Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been cleared for baseball games and will start his rehab assignment on Friday at Class-A Advanced Frederick Keys.

Machado’s sophomore season with Baltimore was cut short a few games dew to a tragic injury against the Rays. Late in a September game, he grounded a ball to second base and tried to beat it out for a base hit. It appeared that he had beat it out, but Machado stepped on first base awkwardly, his knee buckled, and he fell to the ground in agony. The Orioles medical staff came to his need and put him on a stretcher, ending his season.

On October 10, Manny Machado had reconstructive surgery on his knee to limit the possible chances of future dislocations. The surgery would sideline him for approximately four-to-six months. It has been a little over six months since the surgery and Machado is finally ready to get back on the playing field.

In 2013, Machado finished the season hitting .283/.314/.432 with 14 home-runs, 71 runs batted in and a league-leading 51 doubles. Not only did he lead the American League in doubles, he also lead the league in at-bats, with 667, and fielding percentage at third base, with a .973 percentage.

He’s been taking at bats at Extended Spring Training for much of the past week. Getting him into rehab games is likely the last step before he’ll be able to be activated from the DL.