NewsTigers prospect Sizemore breaks ankle
Second baseman expected to be ready for Spring Training
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
10/24/09 4:26 PM EST
The Tigers' second baseman of the future won't be playing any more this year. Scott Sizemore will miss the rest of the Arizona Fall League season after breaking his left ankle trying to turn a double play during a game on Thursday.Sizemore is traveling to Detroit this weekend for followup exams. However, he told the Detroit Free Press that the injury is not expected to require surgery, meaning he should be ready in time for Spring Training.
The 24-year-old was off to a scorching start to the AFL campaign, going 7-for-19 with two doubles, three homers and nine RBIs in five games for the Peoria Javelinas. He was following up a regular season in which he batted.308 with 39 doubles, 17 homers and 66 RBIs between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.
Those numbers, combined with his progress defensively over the course of the season -- he turned 100 double plays and made 21 errors in 118 games at second base -- convinced team officials that he's ready for the jump the Major Leagues. Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said in his end-of-season remarks that Sizemore would be the team's starting second baseman if they can't re-sign soon-to-be free agent Placido Polanco.
This injury isn't expected to change those plans. Barring a setback, Sizemore will be fully recovered well ahead of the start of camp in February. He'll be the second Tigers infielder there to have spent the offseason recovering from injury. Brandon Inge will undergo surgery on both knees on Nov. 3 but is on schedule to be ready for baseball activity around the start of February.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
