Ryan Howard had successful surgery to repair a torn left Achilles on Wednesday and is eyeing a return to the Phillies lineup in April.

Howard had the procedure performed in Baltimore by Dr. Mark Meyerson, a foot and ankle specialist who confirmed a full tear. Howard also had a PRP injection.

Afterward, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. laid out an optimistic timetable for Howard’s recovery.

“It’s going to be five-to-six months from the surgery until he can play at his accustomed level,” Amaro said.

Howard, who had been battling left foot pain since August, tore his Achilles on the final play of Friday’s Game 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. If he stays on course with Amaro’s timetable, it’s possible Howard could be in the Phillies lineup for the first game of the 2012 season on Thursday, April 5 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

“A lot depends on how he recovers,” Amaro said. “The start of the season could be impacted, but I still hope he makes his first at-bat of the season.”

The team said Howard will be immobilized for a week or two. He could begin weight bearing and strengthening in the next month, depending on how quickly he recovers from surgery.

Amaro's time table actually meshes pretty well with what Dr. David Rubenstein, head of sports medicine at Lankenau Medical Center and team orthopedic surgeon for both the 76ers and the Philadelphia Soul, told me over the weekend. Here's that story.