FILE PHOTO: Aug 15, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) chases down a foul ball in the dirt in the sixth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Images
August 25, 2018
Catcher Buster Posey is expected to be sidelined up to eight months after opting for hip surgery, the San Francisco Giants confirmed.
Posey, 31, recently got a cortisone injection and missed last month’s All-Star Game.
The operation is scheduled to be performed Monday by Dr. Marc J. Philippon, in Vail, Colorado. The procedure is needed repair his labrum and to remove a bone spur in his right hip. The recovery timeline could cause him to miss part, if not all, of spring training, but Posey was optimistic.
“If things go smoothly with no hiccups, I’ll be ready to go next Opening Day,” Posey said.
Team vice president Brian Sabean said in a radio interview Thursday that surgery was imminent.
If all goes well and Posey can return in six months, that would put him back on the field in late February, well into spring training. On the long side of the recovery timetable, Posey would be back in eight months, or about one month into the regular season.
“If you hit the mark well enough, you should be able to perform in spring training and hopefully start the season on time,” Sabean said.
Posey has been struggling with soreness in his hip since a road trip in late May.
The injury has been a factor in Posey’s dip in power numbers this season, as his five homers and .382 slugging percentage are easily the lowest marks of his career since becoming a full-time player. The 31-year-old also is batting .284 and has 40 RBIs in 443 plate appearances.
(Field Level Media)
