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In potentially ominous news, Brewers first baseman Mat Gamel is returning to Milwaukee today to have his right knee examined by the team doctor, according to Mike Vassallo, the club's Director of Media Relations:
#Brewers first baseman Mat Gamel will return to Milwaukee today to have his right knee evaluated by Dr. William Raasch.
— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) May 2, 2012
Adam McCalvy, MLB.com beat writer for the Brewers, notes that this is a bad sign and indicates something far more serious than a twisted knee:
Re: Gamel. I don't think you send a player halfway across the country to see your head Dr. if he has just a "twisted" knee. Stay tuned.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 2, 2012
Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel describes the injury:
Gamel injured the knee in the bottom of the first inning of the game against the Padres chasing a foul pop fly off the bat of Nick Hundley. Replays showed that just before Gamel crashed into the padded wall in front of the stands, his right knee was hyperextended.
Gamel finished that inning but when he tried to swing a bat in the on-deck circle before the second inning, he felt discomfort in the knee and was removed from the game. He was scheduled to be examined by a local doctor later in the evening.
Gamel, 26, is a 5th-year pro and is currently batting .246 / .293 / .348 on the season, right in line with his .229 / .305 / .367 career marks.