CLEARWATER, Fla.Phillies slugger Ryan Howard is being treated for an infection and will be inactive for several days, Scott Sheridan, the teams head athletic trainer, said Wednesday morning.
Sheridan added that Howards surgically repaired left Achilles tendon was intact. Sheridan called that great news.
Howard had his torn Achilles tendon repaired by surgeon Mark Myerson in October. Howard recently developed an open wound on the skin covering the Achilles. He was examined by Myerson in Baltimore on Monday. According to Sheridan, Howard had a small procedure to clean out the wound and a surgical suture that had not dissolved properly. Howard was then placed on an antibiotic to treat the infection.
Sheridan said he would consult with Myerson before he determined how Howards rehab from the initial injury would proceed.
The biggest thing right now is we have to protect the wound and make sure the healing occurs, then begin to move forward from there, Sheridan said. Hes going to be inactive for a few days.
Howards progress has clearly been slowed, but Sheridan will not use the word setback.
I prefer not to use that word, he said. We never established a particular timetable for him. Its one of those things that happens in the rehab process. We just have to move forward from it.
MLB
Its common for the skin behind the Achilles to have trouble healing.
Howard had been taking ground balls and hitting before he was slowed by the wound near the original incision on the back of his ankle. That was an indication that the repair of the Achilles was holding up well. Myerson confirmed that during his examination of Howard.
That was our biggest concern going into this, Sheridan said. That was one of the things during the procedure that he confirmed: The Achilles tendon is intact and not compromised. Thats great news.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com