Catcher Injures Knee

By Sheila Dwyer, Knee1 Staff

The prognosis is unknown for Mike Lieberthal, the Philadelphia Phillies catcher whose right knee was injured on Saturday night’s game against Arizona. He is currently on his baseball team’s 15-day disabled list.

Lieberthal, who was running to first base when his knee buckled, will undergo MRI testing today to determine the full extent of his injury. At the ballpark on Saturday night, the medical staff diagnosed him with a right knee sprain. However, his trainer said Lieberthal might have ligament damage as well.

The injury occurred when Lieberthal led off the inning with a single. As he ran toward first, Arizona pitcher Brian Anderson threw to first base to pick off the runner. During his final lunge toward the bag, Lieberthal’s knee buckled, and he went down. Arizona’s Mark Grace tagged him out as Lieberthal held his knee in pain.

This injury is not Lieberthal’s first. He was out at the end of last season with a bone spur in his elbow.

“It’s not good at all,” Lieberthal commented sadly when asked about his prognosis. Some observers believe his injury could keep him out of the lineup for six weeks.

Reference: news.yahoo.com