Nationals outfielder Eaton has ACL surgery

Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton has undergone surgery to repair his torn left ACL and started a rehabilitation program that’s expected to last six to nine months.

The injury occurred April 28 against the New York Mets, when Eaton stepped on first base awkwardly while beating out an infield hit.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says Eaton had surgery Tuesday. Rizzo says the procedure “went well,” and doctors “didn’t find anything they didn’t anticipate.”

Royals promote Maness: The Kansas City Royals have promoted Seth Maness from Class AAA Omaha, less than nine months after the right-hander had ligament surgery on his pitching elbow.

Maness had what is called “primary repair” surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament Aug. 18 and signed a minorleague deal with the Royals on Feb. 13.

In four seasons with St. Louis, Maness went 17-10 with a 3.19 ERA in 244 relief appearances.

Injuries force Marlins’ hand: Dee Gordon is the Miami Marlins’ new starting shortstop, and that’s by default.

Adeiny Hechavarria and rookie J.T. Riddle became the third and fourth players on the left side of Miami’s infield to be sidelined by injuries this week. Hechavarria was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained abdominal muscle and is expected to be out a couple of weeks, and Riddle was scratched from the lineup because of a bruised right index finger.

Third baseman Martin Prado is expected to be out more than a month with a strained right hamstring, and utilityman Miguel Rojas went on the 60-day DL on Tuesday with a broken right thumb.