Mariano Rivera Injury: Yankees Closer Carted Off After Hurting Knee Before Game vs. Royals (VIDEO)

Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees throws against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on April 23, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi says closer Mariano Rivera has a torn right knee ligament, an injury that could potentially end his career.

The 42-year-old right-hander was carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging flyballs during batting practice Thursday night before the Yankees played the Kansas City Royals.

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Comments

[Peggy Wong]

03:25 PM on 05/06/2012

Thanks for the memories Mr. Rivera. I remember watching you last year from here in the bleachers:
http://www.yankeesseatingchart.com/new-york-yankees-bleachers/new-york-yankees-section-236

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and a return in 2013

[kjmass1]

01:06 PM on 05/04/2012

As a Red Sox fan, it hurts to see the best go down. We feared Mariano anytime he was coming in, but if you beat him, you knew you had beaten the best.

[Another Random Guy]

07:58 AM on 05/04/2012

Why not let fans shag flies? Give them a waiver in case this once-in-a-lifetime event happens and problem solved. I'm not a Yankees fan, but as a baseball fan, I am very saddened by this.

[OhioPaul]

12:49 AM on 05/04/2012

1948 World Series. Attendance in Cleveland: Game 3 (70,306), game 4 (81,897), game 5 (86,288). My father was there. Baseball was "the" national sport for him and for most Americans. He is the reason I have always followed baseball. I am old enough to remember the ballplayers staying in the city off season to sell cars for extra money, living where their fans lived, never switching teams. Rivera is the best closer I have ever seen, though he often broke my heart. Why do pitchers shag flags, anyway?

[GeorgeGee]

12:35 AM on 05/04/2012

I guess we mere mortals weren't made to put so much torque on such a flimsy ligament. My heart goes out to Mariano. I know he must be devestated. He wanted to leave the game the way he deserved to... when he's good and ready. Heck, he's still so good, I think he still had some good years left in him. I guess time will tell if he'll try to come back, or hang them up. Either way, he'll go down in history as one of the greatest of all time and as sure fire a first ballot Hall of Famer as there has ever been. And to top it off, a truly nice, classy and good human being. Get well Mariano and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[GeorgeGee]

12:35 AM on 05/04/2012

Man, that initial shot of pain when your ACL snaps all the way thru is a beech! It feels like you took a gunshot straight to the knee. Surprisingly, after about a half hour, it doesn't hurt that much. The ACL tear reaction is pretty universal. We've seen it 3 times this past week alone with D Rose, the Knicks Shumpert and now Mariano. Collapse, grab the knee and writhe in pain. It's painful to watch. And even with all the advances in surgical procedures, rehab is never a day less than 8 months. If your a pro athlete, you really can't expect to be good to go for about a year. When I tore mine playing basketball, I simply decided not to repair it. I couldn't afford to be off my legs during a 6 month rehab due to the work I do. Surprisingly, the fact that I live with a 100% tear of my ACL in my right knee (now 4 years later), it doesn't hurt not even a bit. I can even jog and run in a straight line without a problem and no pain. The only time you even notice it is when you torque your knee or make a cut on it like an athlete would. Then your knee simply buckles, gives out on you and you're lucky if you don't fall down. ----- cont -----

[Counterglow]

01:16 AM on 05/04/2012

Been there. Done that. The doc told me it was, "Age Tax".

[noahmarder]

12:33 AM on 05/04/2012

As a true Yankee fan, I wish Rivera a successful recovery and hope he comes back and has a great 2013 season.

[Michaela19801]

12:29 AM on 05/04/2012

I hope he comes back.

What a classy guy !

[mikeodd]

12:22 AM on 05/04/2012

No, not like this...
Hope Mo makes a through and speedy recovery but...
If The Man does decide to pack it in, good luck, God Bless and Thank You from the bottom of my Pinstriped heart!
What a sobering night for the Gotham sports fan.

[huffyISaHottie]

12:22 AM on 05/04/2012

Shagging flyballsgate.

[sheaftosser]

12:21 AM on 05/04/2012

I'm laying even money Mo will be back. The docs can repair this kind of stuff very well these days, and he was showing no signs of tailing off prior to the injury. Mo is one of the real high class individuals in the game, so I'm pulling for him.....and I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan speaking!

[xandel434]

01:57 AM on 05/04/2012

I have to agree... Red Sox fan also!

[opantxm]

12:20 AM on 05/04/2012

:( If he retires.. I will miss him, but if he comes back... LOOK OUT world. Greatest closer ever.

[gthang91582]

12:17 AM on 05/04/2012

Sucks to go out like that. But he's 42. How much longer could he go for, really? Bummer tho.

[littleolwinemakerme]

12:20 AM on 05/04/2012

Tough chit rich boy.

[noahmarder]

12:34 AM on 05/04/2012

There's no reason he can't pitch next year if he wants to.

[dieselfriedchicken]

12:16 AM on 05/04/2012

Under Paul Ryans medicare plan, Rivera will have to be euthanized.

[huffyISaHottie]

12:20 AM on 05/04/2012

LOL...as a red sox fan, i'm ok with that.

[noahmarder]

12:35 AM on 05/04/2012

You Boston fans really are classless.

[PopeFusty]

11:14 AM on 05/04/2012

LOL... as a human, i'm ok with you tearing your ACL.

[BigMitch]

12:16 AM on 05/04/2012

Could end his career? Or could be back to play within a few days. Oh, Huffpo. We love your click-bait headlines.

[noahmarder]

12:37 AM on 05/04/2012

He tore his ACL. He won't be back this year.

I'm hoping he has a great 2013 season.