Lance Berkman of the St. Louis Cardinals said Sunday his knee injury feels similar to the ACL tear he suffered in 2005.
Even though an official diagnosis hasn't been made, it appears Berkman's feeling was well-founded.
Lance Berkman is headed to the 15-day disabled list. (AP Photo)
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss reported early Monday (via Twitter) that the Cards first baseman did, indeed, suffer a torn right ACL on Saturday. An MRI exam later in the day will confirm the tear, according to Strauss.
Berkman was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday before the Cardinals' series finale vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's the second trip the DL this season for the the 36-year-old, who now is pondering his baseball future.
"If I've re-torn my ACL or something like that, I'd certainly get it fixed but you don't know how psychologically you're going to come back from something like that," Berkman told reporters, according to the Post-Dispatch. "I'm not talking from the standpoint of being scared of hurting it again. I'm talking about doing everything it takes to come back and play again at an elite level. I think that's a legitimate question I'm going to have to answer if, in fact, it turns out to be something more serious than we hope that it is."
Berkman will be examined Monday after the club returns to St. Louis.
"I'll be glad to get some more definitive answers (Monday). Then you map out your strategies and go from there," he told reporters.
Berkman left Saturday night's game after stretching for a throw from shortstop Rafael Furcal on Justin Sellers' groundout for the third out of the second inning.
รข€" Lance Berkman leaves game with knee injury
Berkman had just come off the disabled list last Sunday after being sidelined for 21 games because of a strained left calf he aggravated while chasing a popup.
The switch-hitting Berkman, a six-time All-Star and the NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2011, has played in only 13 games this season and is batting .333 with a homer and four RBIs.
To replace Berkman on the roster, St. Louis purchased the contract of first base prospect Matt Adams from Triple-A Memphis. The rookie smoked the first pitch he saw in the big leagues to center for a single in the second inning for the first of his two hits. He also started an inning-ending double play in the first after fielding Adam Kennedy's grounder in the hole.
"It's sad to see Lance go down with the knee injury, but I was definitely excited last night to get the phone call," Adams said. "I've worked so hard to get here, and hopefully I'll make the most of my opportunity. It's a dream come true. It's definitely exciting to see the 'World Series Champions' patch on the sleeve, and even more exciting to put it on and play for the Cardinals."
Contributing: The Associated Press
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