Melky Cabrera gets a benign tumor removed from back

Melky Cabrera had a benign tumor removed from his lower back that possibly could have contributed to his injuries this season. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Blue Jays veteran left fielder Melky Cabrera is expected to make a full recovery after he had a benign tumor removed from his back.

Cabrera has been dealing with leg injuries and was ruled out for the rest of the 2013 season with a strained left knee.

Doctors were unaware of a tumor until Cabrera complained of back pain. An MRI in late August revealed a tumor on his lower back, located near the spinal cord. From MLB.com's report:

"On his rehab assignment, he came clean and said his back had been bothering him for about four months," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "We finally got an MRI done on the back. We found a tumor. The doctors said we had to have it removed. It took a week to have tests, and the tests came back that it was completely benign."

It's speculated that this tumor could be the cause of some of the leg issues Cabrera has been facing. From MLB.com:

"As the tumor grows, it starts to push on your nerve and causes complete weakness in the legs," Anthopoulos said. "That's why we'd find inflammation and things like that, but we never found a tear.

"Those were the only things he said were sore, were his legs, which when you talk to the training staff, ultimately, the result is weakness in your legs. Ultimately, you wish it never occurred, but at least we have something to point to."