Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard may miss spring training and perhaps even the start of the 2012 regular season because of a torn Achilles tendon. Howard was injured on the final play of Philadelphia's season-ending loss to St. Louis on Friday night, falling as he ran out of the batter's box on his groundout. The Phillies said Saturday night an MRI revealed a rupture of Howard's left Achilles tendon. "He cannot have surgery until the swelling resolves, and it has not been determined who will perform the surgery," the team said in a statement. "Recovery time won't be known until after the surgery is complete, and there is no guarantee he will be ready for spring training." Injuries of that type usually require at least six months of recuperation.