CINCINNATI, April 7 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds have was learned that star centerfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who hit his first home run of the season in Sunday's win over Montreal, will be sidelined at least 3-6 six weeks with a partial tear of the patellar tendon in his right leg and partially dislocated his right kneecap. If he need surgery, he will miss the rest of the season.
He will be placed on the disabled list before Cincinnati begins its upcoming series at Pittsburgh.
Griffey, who hit his first home run of the season in the third inning and doubled in the seventh, left in the seventh after being caught in a rundown between third and home. An MRI afterwards revealed the partial tear in the tendon.
"We are going to fit him with a brace and immobilize the knee," said Reds team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek. "We will begin a rehab program and monitor it for a couple of weeks. There's some controversy on this type of injury as far as whether to treat it with surgery or not. Some (doctors) treat them non-operatively. We'll try that. We could always operate later."
The MRI was done at Good Samaritan Hospital. After missing only eight games in his final three years with Seattle, his former team, he has been plagued by injuries since he joined his hometown team in 2000. He played in only 111 games last season because of a hamstring injury suffered in spring training.
