New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez underwent surgery on his left hip Wednesday and is expected to be out for six months to ensure a full recovery.
According to The Washington Post , Rodriguez’s doctor repaired a torn labrum and impingement. The surgery “went as planned and without complication.”
Rodriguez, 37, is expected to be released from the hospital Thursday and most likely won’t be returning to the field until after the All-Star break. In the meantime, the Yankees have signed free agent Kevin Youkilis to play third base while Rodriguez is recovering.
Dr. Bryan Kelly said last week that Rodriguez had a condition known as femoral acetabular impingement. Impingement happens when the ball head and socket rub against each other abnormally, which creates damage to the hip joint. Kelly said the condition was caused by genes and not steroids. Rodriguez admitted to steroid use in 2009, saying that he took them when he played for the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003.
According to ESPN , Rodriguez is owed $114 million on his current contract, which expires in 2017. That amount will also include potential milestone home run bonuses.
The Yankees said that this new surgery is “similar but not identical” to the procedure Rodriguez had in March 2009 on his right hip.
Last month, when the Yankees first said that Rodriguez would be undergoing surgery , general manager Brian Cashman said that the team “will wait for Alex. We will cushion the blow. We will shore up every aspect that we possibly can.”
Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star and the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, as well as the youngest to hit 600, beating records set by Jimmie Foxx and Babe Ruth respectively.