Adam Eaton underwent surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee Tuesday, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo announced Wednesday afternoon. Robin West, the team’s orthopedic surgeon, performed the surgery.
“Although every rehab is different, we’re anticipating that it should be an ordinary rehab,” Rizzo said.
The 28-year-old Eaton, who was at Nationals Park on Wednesday with his new bike, also suffered a high-ankle sprain when he lunged for first base beating out a throw for an infield single during the ninth inning of Washington’s 7-5 loss to the Mets on April 28. Rizzo said the ankle won’t require a surgical procedure.
“The ankle is good,” Rizzo said. “We’re going to see more once it’s weight bearing. But that should be fine when he gets to rehab.”
The Nationals have felt Eaton’s absence atop the batting order. His replacement, Michael A. Taylor, went 10 for 24 in the first six games following Eaton’s injury, but is 1 for his past 14 in the four games since then.
Taylor is back in Washington’s starting lineup against the Orioles on Wednesday in center field, batting eighth. The Nationals initially had Taylor batting second without Jayson Werth included against Orioles left-hander Wade Miley because the left fielder had been under the weather. But Werth informed Manager Dusty Baker he felt and could play, so Baker changed the lineup and replaced Chris Heisey with Werth, a .295 career hitter against left-handers. Werth is batting in his usual second spot and Taylor will bat eighth.
ORIOLES
Seth Smith LF
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Mark Trumbo RF
Jonathan Schoop 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Caleb Joseph C
Wade Miley LHP
NATIONALS
Trea Turner SS
Jayson Werth LF
Bruce Harper RF
Ryan Zimmerman 1B
Daniel Murphy 2B
Anthony Rendon 3B
Matt Wieters C
Michael A. Taylor CF
Stephen Strasburg RHP