The Detroit Tigers received devastating news yesterday regarding one of their top players. While conducting his offseason workouts, Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The injury will likely cause one of Detroit’s most productive offensive players to be sidelined for the 2012 season.
According to Tigers head athletic trainer Kevin Rand, Martinez was working out at his offseason home in Orlando last week when he sustained the ACL injury. While in the middle of agility drills, shuffling side-to-side, Martinez’s foot gave way causing the tear.
Rand noted that Martinez “was doing a lateral move” when his right foot slipped and “all his weight came down on his left knee”.
Martinez contacted the Tigers training staff last week following the injury and underwent an MRI exam. The results of the torn ACL came back Monday. The Tigers said that Martinez plans on getting a second opinion early next week, but the club ultimately expects that their slugger will require surgery.
The timetable for Martinez’s return is in the eight to 10 months, and, while he is expected to make a success recovery, the 33-year-old likely won’t be available until the start of the 2013 season.
This leaves a huge void in Detroit’s lineup, and Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski equated the news to a punch in the gut. Still, Dombrowski said it’s not devastating and that the club will have to pick themselves up and move on without Martinez.
Dombrowski noted that Detroit can still have a successful 2012 season a la the St. Louis Cardinals of 2011. After losing Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright for the season, the Cardinals went on to win the World Series this fall.
Still, Martinez figures to present Detroit with difficult shoes to fill. Last season for the Tigers Martinez hit at a clip of .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs, 40 doubles and 103 RBI’s.
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