Baldelli gets an updated diagnosis
According to report on WLNE-TV, his condition is treatable
ST. PETERSBURG -- According to a report by WLNE-TV in Rocco Baldelli's native
Rhode Island, Baldelli went to the Cleveland Clinic last week and received
news that the doctors had misdiagnosed his illness.
Doctors thought he had a mitochondrial disorder, but his condition has now
been diagnosed as channelopathy, a non-progressive, highly treatable disease.
"It's definitely an encouraging development," Baldelli told the St.
Petersburg Times on Wednesday morning from his Rhode Island home. "Knowing
this is a treatable condition, I feel this is a very positive thing for me
and my baseball career. With this less-severe diagnosis, I hope to be on the
field on a much more regular basis."
If, in fact, Baldelli, 27, sees improvement, he would likely be a highly
desirable outfielder on the free-agent market. Already, he has talked with
many teams, including the Rays, but his medical condition appeared to be a
hurdle to clear.
Baldelli told the St. Petersburg Times he was not originally "misdiagnosed"
as had been reported, rather the original diagnosis of a mitochondrial
disorder was "the best diagnosis at the time."
Baldelli began the 2008 season on the 60-day disabled list with what was
diagnosed as a mitochondrial disorder, which was cited as the cause for his
constant state of fatigue. He misssed the first 116 games of the 2008 season
before returning to play in 28 of the Rays' final 46 games, making 16 starts
-- 13 at DH and three in right field.
When Baldelli played in his first game back on Aug. 10 at Seattle, he had a
single in four trips to the plate while batting cleanup and playing right
field. The game was his first Major League game since May 15, 2007 at Disney
when the Rays played the Rangers.
Baldelli also mised all of the 2005 season due to two major injuries. He tore
the ACL in his left knee in October 2004 and he tore the ulner collateral
ligament in his right elbow while rehabbing from the knee injury in June 2005.
Prior to April 1, Tampa Bay declined to pick up his $6 million option for the
2009 season. By declining the option, the Rays had to pay him $4 million,
which allowed Baldelli to become a free agent at the end of the 2008 season.
Had the Rays exercised the option, the team would have had to face the same
question of whether to renew him for '10 and '11 at a cost of $17 million or
buy him out at $2 million.
The Rays selected Baldelli with the sixth overall pick of the 2000 First-Year
Player Draft out of Bishop Hendrickson High School in Rhode Island. He has a
.281 career average in 447 Major League games, with 52 home runs and 234 RBIs.
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