It’s been known for more than a week that Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez would undergo surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, but the Astros on Friday announced that the reigning Rookie of the Year also underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee as well. That procedure is being termed by the Astros as a “routine cleanup.” The club’s press release indicates that the expectation is for Alvarez to “be ready to play prior to the start of Spring Training” next year.
Knee problems have plagued Alvarez, 23, throughout his professional career — even prior to his big league debut in 2019. On the one hand, it’s discouraging to hear of a dual knee procedure for such a young player, but on the other, the organization surely hopes that these operations will alleviate what has been a longstanding issue for a player who burst onto the scene as one of MLB’s best young hitters.
Alvarez didn’t make his Major League debut until June 9, 2019, but he still launched 27 home runs, ripped 26 doubles and plated 78 runs in just over half a season’s worth of games. Alvarez played in 87 contests last year and batted .313/.412/.655 over the life of 369 plate appearances. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2022-23 offseason and can be controlled via that arbitration system all the way through the 2025 campaign.
ChangedName
This dude gotta be at least in his late 20s. No way he is 23.
Dalton1017
a knee injury can be very devastating for power hitters. 2 knee injuries will be even worse. hopefully he will bounce back from it though
Jeff Zanghi
I was a high school baseball player and when I was 18 I had platella femoral syndrome which is what I’m guessing Alvarez has. It’s more common in older players but also happens to young guys. I’m willing to bet that’s what the ‘routine cleanup’ was for. As that’s the option to fix it. And believe me while it doesn’t bother you so much day to day… it makes batting extremely difficult.
antibelt
Ellis Burks had a successful career with a pair of clunky knees.
smuzqwpdmx
Burks had a successful career, but a shadow of the career he could’ve had with good knees. Cost him a lot of games and defensive value and steals.
Rangers29
Ok this injury news is starting to get sad. Judge goes back on the I.L, and now Alvarez needs double knee surgery!!! What is 2020?!
sufferforsnakes
Yeah, I’m just shedding tears over here.
halofan20
He’s not 23, I am 12.
oldmansteve
The Greg Oden of baseball
astick
Excellent reference.
antibelt
Not really. Oden was horrible his whole time in the NBA.
The Human Rain Delay
Odens first 2 yrs (total 82 games so 1 full year) really his whole career (Only played 23 games 3 yrs later) his per 36 mins was at 19 pts 14.5 rebs with over 2 .5 blks a game on 59% fg
He was actually quite good when on the court
lamars
Guy played two years, maybe a season and a half. He was constantly battling injuries during his 2 seasons and he was FAR from being horrible. He him knees ended what would have been a very Promising career.
Nicks Nats
Hasn’t anyone told him you sign a 10/300 mill. deal than you do this!
Jwap
And the Dodgers win another trade
Randy_Watson
Even with Yordan’s surgically repaired knees, the Dodgers still didn’t win that trade. Alvarez will recover & be back in a major league lineup, meanwhile, Josh Fields is wherever the hell he is. LMFAO!
KCJ
When they find Josh Fields they’ll probably find your understanding of sarcasm close behind LOL
lamars
Please explain how the Dodgers won this deal?
wild bill tetley
A non-catcher having a double knee surgery at 23. Doesn’t seem right.
angt222
Looks like a career DH now..
clepto
^^ This innocent statement right here is EXACTLY why the DH is trash. Half a player….has a job.
Tired of the “hate watching pitchers flail at the plate” when the AL smooth brain fans have no concept of the double switch strategy, OR, realizing they are watching, worshiping less than half a baseball player.
KCfan
In addition to hating the DH, I also hate automatic transmissions, color TV and the internet. All things should stay as they were in 1898.
gbs42
Let go of the anger, clepto.
pinstripes17
hey clepto, get with the times. you sound like a dinosaur.
Orel Saxhiser
MLB pitchers batted .119 in 2019. That is the essence of being half-a-baseball-player. Also, there is zero “strategy” in a double switch. The real strategy occurs when a legitimate hitter steps to the plate. That would be a strategy for both teams because the hitter can actually handle the bat. Pitcher plus DH equals one full player. Simple math. You are not smarter because a double-switch gives you a woody. That just makes you a weirdo.
gbs42
I don’t know why pitchers can’t work on their hitting more. They start once every 5-6 days with a throw day in between. Spend some of that free time in the batting cages.
KCJ
GBS42 –
I’ve always wondered that too. Every one of these guys hit in little league and high school, and many did in college and the minor leagues as well. Yet half of the pitchers in MLB look like they’ve never taken a swing in their lives.
clepto
Cey Hey: learn to comprehend. Low pitcher batting average was already implied and if you grew up with real baseball, beyond a moron video game, you might understand.
teufelshunde4
The less a manger can screw up a game the better..
Even the best managers have ridiculous peaks & valleys with the results.
Give me a manager who can get the most out of the players he is has on any given year. A manager who maintains excellence with or without stars or great farm system.
KCJ
Clepto –
I had the double switch down pat when I was 11 or 12 years old…not exactly a tough concept or a great argument for “strategy”
gbs42
It’s not the technical execution of the double switch, it’s the strategic decision whether to pull the pitcher for a pinch hitter if he’s pitching well.
KCJ
Yeah that’s a good point, however how many starters go more than 5 or 6 innings in a game these days anyways? And relievers are almost always in for 1 inning, if that
gbs42
Good point. The need for double switches has diminished. I think the DH in the NL is here to stay, so it’s probably irrelevant.
12isbetter
Then you still don’t understand it at 13
clepto
Apparent KC, you didnt because you really dont understand how it impacts the game, beyond the actual doubleswitch. Typical AL flailing argument. Go hang your Big Papi poster.
gbs42
clepto, why do you feel the need to insult people in your responses?
johnrealtime
I agree with you Clepto and am anti-DH but the DH argument is tired. You aren’t going to change any minds, just like the pro-Dhers aren’t going to change your mind
lamars
Guess you won’t be watching baseball by the 2022 season. You do realize the DH will be headed to the N.L.?
lasershow45
AL fan. Full “concept” of the double switch.
Just don’t care.
And you say half a player? What about a loogy pitcher for the last 15 years? Are they a 1/27th of a player? Even a relief pitcher today is 1/9th with your math.
If a dude can hit, the dude can play. Get that “half” nonsense out of here
coldgoldenfalstaff
Kind of disappointed that they didn’t do an arthroscope after last season.
Technically correct
Yeah, that’s kind of the Yankees thing.
fred-3
“No Knees” Yordan
Redwood13
This is just a minor knee clean-up he will be just fine in2-3 months will be ready to go for 2021
andrewgauldin
My man Yordan gonna put on weight these next few months
Datashark
too much kneeling before games
lamars
That was a reach.