Detroit Tigers’ Victor Martinez likely to return in September 2012 – MLB Update
According to a leading sports website, Detroit Tigers’ designated hitter Victor Martinez may not be able to return until late September 2012. Martinez, who had an excellent season with Detroit Tigers in 2011, suffered a knee injury while taking part in a
routine training session before the start of the season.
In some ways, Martinez injury halted Tigers’ progress significantly. The offence relied heavily on Martinez and Miguel Cabrera last season.
Although Manager Jim Leyland and General Manager Dave Dombrowski signed a multi-million dollar deal with Prince Fielder to strengthen the hitting line-up, the Tigers are far from getting what they wanted.
It will not be wrong to say that Martinez played a key role in Tigers’ American League Central Division winning campaign last year and it will be tough task for the Tigers to make it to the play-offs this season. There is no shortage of talent in Tigers’
hitting line-up but some of the offensive players are just biting the dust.
According to the source, Martinez is recovering fast from his knee injury and he will be available for Tigers’ big league roster at the end of September. In an interview, Tigers’ trainer Kevin Rand stated that Martinez is likely to have an MRI scan on his
knee next week to assess the seriousness of the injury.
"From a stability standpoint, his knee looks great," Rand said. "So for July, he'll go through a strengthening program. If all goes well and the strength of that leg is equal to the right side, he would begin a running progression for the month of August."
"As for returning to play, it's not until he gets through that running progression, including baserunning, that you could even begin to think about it," he added. "Our best-case scenario would be for him to return (to the Tigers lineup) in mid-to-late September.
We have to get the leg strength back."
The left handed hitter, Martinez hit .330 with 102 RBI’s for the Tigers in 2011. Right now, he is on the second year of his four year contract. Surely, the Tigers will be looking to support him in every possible way in his testing times.
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