Season Likely Over For Orioles LF Reimold
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold will have surgery on his neck Monday, a procedure that probably will end his season.
Reimold was placed on the disabled list on May 4 with a herniated disk in his neck. Despite receiving several cortisone shots, he is still experiencing numbness in his left arm.
"The best thing to do as far as my career is to get the surgery," Reimold said Friday.
The procedure will take place at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
"I'm going to have the surgery because I need to take pressure off the disk," Reimold said. "The disk is pushing on the nerve root. The main thing is to get the pressure off the nerve."
Reimold said NFL quarterback Peyton Manning had the same operation. Manning, who missed the entire 2011 season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, now plays with Denver.
Asked if could return in 2012, Reimold said: "I think it's a possibility if everything works out in the best possible scenario."
Reimold hit .313 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 16 games this season. He was flourishing in the leadoff spot in place of injured Brian Roberts, but now faces the prospect of watching the rest of the season while rehabilitating from surgery.
"It's disappointing," Reimold said. "Not just individually, but collectively. Not to be a part of it is tough. But I'll be back. I'll do everything I can to be back as soon as I can."
Reimold, 28, entered the season with a .256 career average. He bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Orioles over the previous two seasons. He had surgery in 2009 to repair his left Achilles tendon after playing in a career-high 104 games with Baltimore.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
