After core surgery, Beckham focused on rehab

BALTIMORE -- Third baseman Tim Beckham was in the Orioles' clubhouse on Friday, a day removed from core surgery and optimistic that he'd back at full strength and ready to help the club as soon as possible.
"I'm not going to put a timetable on it, but hopefully I'll be in extended spring training or a Minor League game six weeks from now," said Beckham, whose surgery on Thursday was performed by Dr. Will Meyers in Philadelphia. "I'm just going to go about my rehab 100 percent. I've been through worse, I've been through ACL surgery and that was a lot longer. So hopefully this one won't be as taxing on me. Just want to stay in the right place mentally and be ready to help the team win ballgames when I come back." 
Beckham, who was sidelined this spring with a pesky groin injury, tried to go the rehab route. But after a play on Monday against the Indians reaggravated the injury, he was removed for a pinch-hitter and was placed on the disabled list on Wednesday.
"Come to find out I've been playing on my right one for four years now, didn't know there was a slight tear," said Beckham, who had both sides cleaned up in the procedure. "My left one started acting up in Spring Training. Did the rehab that was necessary. I made a play the other night, and it just triggered it."
Beckham bemoaned the bad timing of the injury.
"Obviously I want to be here and help my team win ballgames and play better baseball than I was playing," he said.
Like many of his teammates, Beckham was off to a slow start this spring. In 23 games, he hit .179/.247/.262, though he didn't use his injuries as an excuse.
"I'm not going to use it as an excuse for my performance on the field. I chose to spike up and I chose to play through injuries," Beckham said. "I'm not going to make excuses, l was just playing bad baseball. Not bad baseball all around, but could have done more at the plate. It's a tough pill to swallow, knowing that I wasn't going to be able to keep playing through it.
"I wasn't helping the team playing at 75 percent. I wanted to do that and get this in the past."