Yankees infielder Martin Prado has finally broken his silence on his recent emergency appendectomy.
The 31-year-old veteran said Wednesday having to undergo the season-ending operation September 16 was upsetting to him, and that he was enjoying his time on the field prior to it. The night before finding out he'd miss the last two weeks of the Yankees' schedule, Prado reported stomach aches while participating in a 1-0 loss to the Rays, yet still managed to record two singles.
“It destroyed me,” Prado told The Star Ledger's Brendan Kuty. “I wanted to play.”
Prado had been one of the Yankees' most consistent performers throughout the later part of the year, batting .316 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 37 contests. When in their lineup, he started at second base, third base and both of the outfield corners, helping him prove his worth.
And apparently, he had fun doing so.
“I was so excited when I went to bed every day when I got up to go to the field and play baseball,” Prado said. “Sometimes there are things you can’t control. It’s not like I was trying to not play. Of course not."
Prado added he's completely healed now, even beginning his offseason program in late October.
He's preparing for his first full season in pinstripes, having not joined the Yankees until July 31. He was traded from the Diamondbacks to New York in exchange for catching prospect Peter O'Brien that day, quickly making an impact on his new team.
