Orioles' Manny Machado progressing

— -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been cleared to return to some baseball activities.

Machado visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Friday for re-evaluation following his October surgery to repair a torn medial patellofemoral ligament. The evaluation involved extensive testing, with treadmill running, squats, jumps and agility maneuvers.

According to ElAttrache, Machado has exceeded expectations.

"He has worked exceptionally hard to get where he is," ElAttracher said. "And we haven't rushed him. It's just a function of who he is as an athlete."

Based on his leg strength and his overall recovery thus far, ElAttrache cleared Machado to return to certain baseball activities.

"He can hit, he can field ground balls, he can run," ElAttrache said.

As Machado continues to gain strength, there will be a controlled progression to include baserunning, reactive defensive maneuvers and running out of the batter's box. However, there remains no specific timetable for his return.

For his part, Machado says he's excited to see the difference in his knee since surgery.

"It looks like all the hard work is paying off," Machado said. "I'm another day closer to getting back in that Orioles uniform."