Report: A-Rod had less hip damage than expected

There was good news for A-Rod, though his recovery timetable hasn't been altered. (US Presswire)

On Wednesday, the Yankees announced that third baseman Alex Rodriguez had undergone successful surgery on his injured left hip, and now there's a report that the damage to A-Rod's hip wasn't as bad as suspected.

According to the New York Daily News, there was less cartilage damage to the hip than doctors expected. More:

“It was minimal,” the source said. “Now it's up to his rehab.”

Minimal cartilage damage means “they wouldn't have to do a microfracture (procedure) or anything where they are trying to regenerate areas where the cartilage has worn away,” said Dr. Derek Ochiai, an orthopedic surgeon and hip arthroscopy specialist in Arlington, Va.

“That will mean his rehab has the highest chance of successfully getting back to the level with his hip that he was before his hip started hurting.”

So, yes, that would be considered good news, but it's also worth noting the timetable for A-Rod's return to the field has not been altered at all. He's still facing six months of rehab, which means he could be back in action after the All-Star game. It's just that it now appears setbacks are less likely.

Rodriguez, 37, hit .272/.353/.430 with 18 homers, 57 RBI and 74 runs in 122 games last season for the Yankees. He hasn't appeared in more than 138 games since 2007, when he won the AL MVP. There are still five years and $114 million left on A-Rod's contract.

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