SARASOTA, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Kearns, expected to be a force in one of baseball's best lineups, on Monday will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.
Kearns had an X-ray Saturday morning after sitting out Friday's 6-1 Grapefruit League win over Pittsburgh. He is just 2-for-11 (.182) with a home run and four RBI in five games this spring.
He underwent an MRI on Sunday morning and will undergo surgery at The Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremcheck will perform the surgery. Kearns is expected to miss just seven to 10 days.
Last year, Kearns was one of the top rookies in baseball, hitting .315 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI in 107 games. The seventh overall pick in the 1998 draft, he was named the organization's top prospect in 2000 and 2001.
Kearns is expected to hit in the middle of a lineup that includes Barry Larkin, Aaron Boone, Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Sean Casey.
