Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies Slugger Hitting But June Return Unlikely

Ryan Howard updated his injury status on a recent episode of his podcast, saying that the leg was getting stronger and he was doing some hitting and light jogging.

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies GM Unsure If Howard Will Return In June

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is looking doubtful for a return to the team in June (via CSN Philly).

Howard has been recovering from an Achilles injury which he had surgery on to repair in October 2011. After seemingly being ahead of schedule, Howard had a setback when he developed an infection around the site of the surgery. He needed another procedure to deal with the infection.

Howard is still rehabbing in Florida and doing baseball activities. However, the team is being cautious because they don't want to risk an injury to another part of his body due to muscle atrophy in his calf.

When asked to comment about Howard's return, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he was uncertain whether or not Howard could return in June, or even by the All-Star break on July 8.

For more Phillies coverage, visit our blog The Good Phight, or stayed tuned to our StoryStream on Ryan Howard's Injury Status.

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Ryan Howard Injury Update: Slugger Still Not Cleared For Baseball Activities, Will Meet With Doctors Again In Week

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard still has not been cleared for baseball activities, but will meet with a doctor in a week with the hopes of getting a thumbs up, general manager Reuben Amaro Jr. announced Tuesday.

Howard had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in October, and developed an infection in February when one of the sutures used in surgery did not dissolve the way it should. Doctors cleared out the infection in late February, but needed to dig such a deep wound that Howard still hasn't recovered from his latest procedure.

"Ryan Howard's wound has gotten smaller and is healing," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement. "We've been advised to limit his activities for one more week to allow it to continue to heal. We hope that he will be able to re-start his baseball activities thereafter."

For more Phillies coverage, visit our blog The Good Phight, or stayed tuned to our StoryStream on Ryan Howard's Injury Status.

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies Slugger To See Specialist Friday

Ryan Howard will see a specialist Friday to examine the wound on the back of his left ankle, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports. According to Salisbury, the news isn't an indication of a setback. Rather, a good diagnosis could bring put him back on the field sooner than later. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the same.

"We hope to get good news," Amaro Jr. said. "Hopefully it has healed to the point where he is cleared to increase baseball activities. If he is, we can be aggressive with him because his Achilles has healed."

Howard has been making slow but steady progress off of surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon last October. He underwent a procedure to clean out an infection in February. The wound left by the procedure is what will be inspected Friday.

There is still no definitive timetable for Howard's return, though the fact that he is taking ground balls now is positive.

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Health Getting Better But Knee 'Still Healing'

Philadelphia Phillies first basemen Ryan Howard could still be out for awhile, however, some good news on the health of the slugger was reported Monday. Howard, who hasn't played this season because of an injury to his left Achilles tendon, is slowly improving but hasn't been cleared to resume baseball activities.

In short, Amaro said, Howard still has a wound on the back of his ankle. It is getting smaller, but it has not healed to the point where doctors are comfortable letting him run or swing a bat.

"It’s still healing," Amaro said. "He’s doing well. We’ll continue on the same deal."

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies Slugger Spotted Out Of Walking Boot

It's not exactly an indication of when he'll return, but it was a good sign this morning that Phillies slugger Ryan Howard was spotted without his walking boot, as mentioned via Twitter by Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ryan Howard appeared without a walking boot this morning.

— Bob Brookover (@brookob) March 22, 2012

Howard remains on the mend from an Achilles' injury suffered on the final out of the Phillies' 2011 season, when he grounded out in Game Five of the National League Division Series.

With Howard expected to be out until at least early June, the Phillies face the prospect of starting the season without the right side of their infield, as second baseman Chase Utley recently visited with a specialist to examine his right knee.

For more Phillies coverage, visit our blog The Good Phight, or stayed tuned to our StoryStreams on Spring Training updates and Ryan Howard's Injury Status.

Ryan Howard Injury Update: Phillies 1B Cleared For Light Exercise

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard can begin to work on his injury rehab once again now that he has been cleared for light exercise (via Philly.com).

Howard has missed the past 18 days after having an infection cleaned on his surgically repaired Achilles tendon. Howard is still in a walking boot but can ride an exercise bike and do other modified range-of-motion exercises with his leg.

The 2006 NL MVP says he has been staying positive since the setback.

"I've just tried to stay positive through the entire thing," Howard said. "These kinds of things happen. The only thing you can do is stay positive. If you start to get down on yourself it's not going to help the situation either way. I'm just looking at it as a positive, trying to keep it on the up and up."

For now, he is focused on continuing his rehab so that when the boot comes off, he will be ready to get back in the swing of things.

For more Phillies coverage, visit our blog The Good Phight, or stayed tuned to our StoryStreams on Spring Training updates and Ryan Howard's Injury Status.

Ryan Howard Injury: Amaro Says No Timetable For Return After Infection

Speaking to reporters today, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr said that the team has no timetable for Ryan Howard's return after the first baseman had a procedure to treat an infection in his surgically repaired Achilles.

Ryan Howard Injury: Infection Treated, Still No Timetable For Return

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard underwent a procedure on Monday after his surgically repaired Achilles tendon became infected, team trainer Scott Sheridan told ESPN, and the team is unsure when the slugger will be able to return to the field.

Sheridan was hesitant to call Howard's latest injury development a setback, but it's likely that the procedure to remove the infection will keep Howard out of the team's lineup longer than he otherwise would have been.

The silver lining for Phillies fans is that the Achilles was inspected during the procedure and remains "intact and not compromised."

But there is still no timetable for Howard's return.

"I have no idea on that," Sheridan said. "We'll talk to Dr. Myerson in the next couple of days, see how he responds to the antibiotics, and we'll go from there. ...

"The things that Ryan had been doing (until this) were very good," Sheridan said. "We had been doing some basic cutting with him. We're hoping we can just kind of move forward from here and that this won't push it back too much."

For more Phillies coverage, visit our blog The Good Phight, or stayed tuned to our StoryStreams on Spring Training updates and Ryan Howard's Injury Status.

Ryan Howard Injury: Phillies Trainer Says Howard Did Not Have A "Setback"

Ryan Howard has left Phillies spring training to be examined by the doctor who performed his surgery over the winter after experiencing what Charlie Manuel called a "little setback." However, Phillies athletic trainer Scott Sheridan met the media this afternoon and disagreed with that characterization. He explained exactly what Howard will have looked at.

"The last couple days he developed what we think is a delayed reaction to his sutures," said Sheridan. "He's going to be traveling to Baltimore where he's going to see [Dr. Mark Myerson] tomorrow. Mark is going to evaluate him and then we'll determine what his treatment plan is from there."

Sheridan stressed that this wasn't a "setback."

"He did not have a setback. We just need to have this one area evaluated. It's just something that happens as part of the rehab process. The achilles tendon is notorious for not healing well, the skin over top of it. Sometimes these things happen, that's why when you look at setting time frames you never say somebody's head or behind schedule until he's on the field."

Sheridan says that he's happy with Howard's progress so far.

"Ryan has been doing great. He's been on the field doing the things we expect of him at this point and we just hope things keep going in the right direction."

The team expects Howard to return to Clearwater on Wednesday.

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Phillies Spring Training 2012: Ryan Howard Talks Rehab

Ryan Howard met the media at Phillies spring training today to discuss his rehab after tearing his ACL on the final out of the NLDS series against the Cardinals last season. Howard didn’t give a timetable for his return, but said he’s working hard to get back.

“The obvious goal is to want to get out there as soon as possible,” he said. "I’m just listening to my body. It will tell me when I’m ready. There are going to be times when your competitive nature takes over and you’re wanting to push a little more, but the training staff is doing a good job of keeping me in check – just making sure I’m doing baby step-type things.

It’s kind of like learning how to run all over again because I’ve been walking with a limp after walking in the boot for about two months."

Howard has of course not forgotten that he’s made the final out of the Phililes season for two straight years. He hopes to have another crack at a big at bat this season.

“It sucks and I know how it looks to everybody,” he said. “Having the season come down (to the last out) and you’re that guy. I try to stay positive. The last two seasons I got out. I figure I’m about due. I’d love to be in that situation again.”

The Phillies season begins in May and while Charlie Manuel has been optimistic about Howard’s chances to be ready, the smart money says the Phillies will play this cautiously and not bring back Howard until he’s absolutely ready.