Nationals 2B Murphy not sure he’ll be ready for Opening Day
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. — 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 than included micro-fracture surgery.
“I’m excited about the progress,” he said. “The work has been good.”
When the knee began bothering him in August, Murphy attributed the problems to normal late-season aches and pains.
That changed during the National League 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-year-old Murphyalreadyhasfullrangeofmotioninhis 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.
If there is a timetable for Murphy’s debut in Grapefruit League games, he wouldn’t divulge it.
“You only want to come off the DL once,” Murphy said. “I don’t want to start playing games and then have to stop. I think that’s the mindset we’re taking now.”
In years past, Murphy hasn’t needed many at-bats to prepare for the season.
Injuries limited him to 10 spring training at-bats in 2013 and17 in 2015, seasons when he hit .286 and .281, respectively. Grapefruit Leagueplate appearances werealso scarce for Murphy last year, when he went hitless in six at-bats as a member of Team USA during the WorldBaseball Classic andhadonlyahandful more once returning to the Nationals.
He went on to hit .322 with 23 homers and 93 RBIs.
A three-time All-Star who finished second in 2016 NL Most Valuable Player voting, Murphy didn’t reveal a target number of at-bats he thinks he needs.
NOTE: The Nationals announced the signing of reliever JoaquinBenoitonWednesday, along with placing pitcher Joe Ross on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from Tommy John elbow reconstruction in July.