Mariano Rivera to undergo surgery June 12

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera— who injured his right knee May 3 while shagging fly balls in Kansas City— announced he will undergo surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament on Tuesday, may 3.

The all-time saves leader had put off the surgery until now because of a blood clot in his right calf.  The blood clot has cleared up, Rivera said, so he can have the operation, which will be performed at the Hospital for special surgery by David Altchek, the New York Mets' team doctor.

"I feel good, real good,"Rivera told reporters late Wednesday afternoon.  The pitcher popped into the Yankees' offices wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  He walked without a limp.

Rivera said the blood clot— which was discovered during tests for injured his knee— cleared up last week and he was given the okay for surgery.

"You just have to deal with it," when asked if he was frustrated.  "It's as simple as that."

Asked if he had regrets about the injury during the past month, Rivera replied, "Actually, I've been so busy with therapy, I don't even think about it.  When I come home, I'm tired.  Then I watch the game.  It's a full day.  It's a lot of work."

The athletic Rivera said he hasn't been given a timetable for his return and will put his future in the hands of a higher power.

"When the Lord permits me  to be ready, I'll be ready," he said.

Mariano Rivera 'scared' about blood clot found in right calf

Mariano Rivera went to the hospital on Monday to decide which doctor would perform surgery on his torn ACL and found out he also had a blood clot in the calf of the same right leg.

The clot was discovered while doctors examined the torn ACL in his right knee, prompting doctors to keep the New York Yankees closer in the hospital overnight while he was treated with blood thinners.

The 42-year old Rivera will undergo surgery in the next week or two.  But first doctors want him to strengthen his knee and get a wider range of motion.  The clot was considered alarming and Rivera doesn't know if it was there before last Thursday's injury in Kansas City.

"I was scared," said Rivera.  "I've never heard good things about blood clots."

Still, the pitcher acknowledged that doctors would have never discovered the clot if he didn't damage his knee while shagging fly balls.

"Maybe it is a blessing; I always see it like that," said Rivera.  "I always say that things happen for a good reason. I was more concerned with the blood clot than the knee.  For a minute, I was like, 'What else would happen?' To me, it's a blessing.  I didn't ask why it happened, I didn't ask how it happened; I asked, 'How do we deal with it?' That's the way I wanted to leave it."

Rivera will be spending the upcoming weeks strengthening his knee for surgery and doesn't think the knee or clot will derail his comeback next season.  In fact, the injuries seem to reinforce his desire to come back.

"I will do whatever it takes, but if the leg doesn't come back strong the way I want it to, that's the Lord saying he doesn't want me to come back," said Rivera.  "If it's my call, I don't want to leave the game the way it happened."