Knee injury may keep Murphy out of opener

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy isn’t sure his surgically repaired right knee will be ready in time for opening day.

Murphy underwent an operation to repair cartilage shortly after last season, a procedure that included microfracture surgery. “I’m excited about the progress,” he said.

When the knee be gan bothering him in August, Murphy attributed the issues to normal late-season aches and pains. That changed during the NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs when his knee buckled once while he was swinging and another time when he fielded a practice grounder between innings. “I was like, this may be a little bit more significant than I thought,” said Murphy, who can become a free agent after this season.

Doctors told him recovery time would be four to six months, and the 32-yearold already has full range of motion in his knee. Now he’s working on strengthening the knee.

Murphy ran on the treadmill Tuesday at about 60 percent weight load. He’s also started some baseball activities, taking grounders on his knees and playing catch. He has yet to swing a bat this spring.

“You only want to come off the DL once,” Murphy said. “I don’t want to start playing games and then have to stop.”

Injuries limited him to 10 spring training at-bats in 2013 and 17 in 2015, seasons when he hit .286 and .281, respectively.

Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy is rehabbing from microfracture surgery on his right knee after last season.