Morton to have season-ending surgery after vicious fall

Charlie Morton's first season in a Philadelphia Phillies uniform came to an abrupt end Wednesday when the club announced the right-hander is scheduled for surgery on his injured left hamstring and will miss the remainder of the 2016 season.

An MRI performed on the 32-year-old starter revealed a tear in his hamstring, which he initially sustained during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 23.

Morton's recovery time is expected to be six-to-eight months.

The nine-year MLB veteran was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in an off-season trade to help stabilize the rotation of a rebuilding Phillies club, and the hurler was off to a decent start in his new surroundings prior to the injury.

He owned a 4.15 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a strikeout rate of 9.9 per nine innings pitched before being sidelined.

His first season in Philadelphia could potentially be his last, as Morton has a $9.5-million mutual option with the club for next season that contains a $1-million buyout.

Over the course of his big-league career, the former Atlanta Braves farm hand owns a 46-71 record with a 4.54 ERA.