Puma's Injury Apparently Not a Torn ACL

The St. Louis Cardinals have announced that Lance Berkman underwent right knee surgery today and are projecting that he'll be out for 8-10 weeks:

Lance Berkman underwent right knee surgery today; initial projection for his rehabilitation and recovery is approximately 8-10 weeks. — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 25, 2012

This indicates, though does not confirm, that Berkman did not tear his ACL despite earlier concerns, because that likely would have put him out for the year, if not his career.

An eight-to-ten-week rehab and recovery schedule would allow Berkman to return around the beginning of August, if all goes well. In the meantime, the Cardinals will have to do with Matt Carpenter and/or rookie Matt Craig at first base. Both of those players have been productive in Berkman’s absence already this season.

Berkman, 36, was hitting .333/.429/.571 with fourteen hits, five doubles, one triple, and one home run while striking out ten times on the season.