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Joba Chamberlain Injured in Trampoline Accident, Yanks Confirm

Yankees Spring Baseba Mian
Joba Chamberlain during a baseball spring training workout Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi confirmed on Saturday that Joba Chamberlain’s right ankle injury was the result of a trampoline accident, according to reports.

The Yankees righty—who burst upon the scene in 2007 as a flame thrower coming out of the bullpen—hurt his ankle while playing with his son at a local recreation center in the Tampa area. He underwent surgery for an open dislocation of his ankle.

“I know he did it on the trampoline, that he was bouncing,” Girardi said, according to the Associated Press.

Reports regarding Chamberlain’s future were grim. Members of the media who cover the Yankees reported that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman looked shaken while announcing the news.

It was also reported on Saturday that Cashman visited the 26-year-old righty, who told the Yankees GM that he could be released from the hospital this weekend.

It’s unclear if Chamberlain will return to the club this season, but the pitcher told Cashman that he could get back on the baseball diamond as early as July. But the general manager didn’t see the MRI or CT scan that was performed on Chamberlain.

“That’s what he told me the doctors are telling him,” Cashman said. “We’ll see. I don’t know. I’m just passing on what he said, and hopefully that’s all accurate. That’s the optimistic side. I don’t think anybody can tell anybody directly right now anything on that.”

The Yankees seemed devastated about the news after learning of Thursday’s incident.

Chamberlain underwent surgery Thursday night.

His son was not hurt.

On Friday, Cashman told reporters that it is a “very significant injury.”

The ankle injury puts a halt to Chamberlain’s recovery from Tommy John Surgery, which he underwent last year. The pitcher was reportedly ahead of schedule and was hoping to return to the club in June.

-With Associated Press