Rays’ Akinori Iwamura undergoes knee surgery, could return in 6 to 8 weeks

Iwamura knee injury not as severe as suspected

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s Akinori Iwamura could be back a lot sooner than expected after undergoing surgery for a knee injury that was not as severe as the Rays initially suspected.

The second baseman only had a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and had an arthroscopic procedure performed Monday instead of reconstructive surgery that would have sidelined him the rest of the season.

Instead, Iwamura could return in six to eight weeks.

The former star in Japan’s Central League was injured in a collision at second base with Florida’s Chris Coghlan on May 24. Team orthopedist Dr. Koco Eaton also repaired the torn medial meniscus in the knee.

Iwamura, injured while trying to turn a double play, was batting .310 with no homers and 16 RBIs in 44 games. He is in the final season of a $7.7 million, three-year contract he signed in December 2006. The Rays hold an option for 2010.

Last month, the 30-year-old called the injury “the most painful moment” in his career, but added the knee seemed to be getting better “little by little each day” while the Rays waited on the swelling to subside so he could have surgery.

“My first intention is to get back on the field as soon as possible,” he said through a translator on May 29.

The Rays, who were off Monday, originally thought Iwamura would face six months of rehab following surgery. The club has used several players at second base in his absence, although Ben Zobrist has settled into the starting role lately.