(FOX19) -
Reds outfielder Jay Bruce could has already started his
rehab program after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on
Monday.
"I talked to him yesterday. I had him in my office last
night and we did (the surgery) today," said Reds medical director Dr. Timothy
Kremchek. "Obviously, (it's) get it done as soon as we possibly can. Why
wait? You know it's got to be done. He can't perform the way he needs
to. Why not get it done and get him on the road to recovery?"
Kremchek called the arthroscopic surgery "routine"
and said it went well. The estimated time Bruce will miss is around a
month, although Kremchek said it could be a little less or a little more
depending on the individual.
Bruce had the surgery Monday morning and began rehab the same
day with range of motion exercises and started a quadriceps and hamstring
strengthening program.
"We started (rehab) today. We'll continue it
tomorrow. The key is to get the swelling down, get his motion and keep
his muscles strong, so when everything heals, he's able to do what he wants as
fast as he possibly can," Kremchek said. "We don't want to be foolish about it but these
young, healthy guys can get back in a few weeks."
Bruce was a late scratch before Sunday's game with what
the team announced as left knee soreness. Bruce did pinch hit in the late
innings.
Bruce has started all but two of the Reds games this year
and is batting .218.
The injury is the most significant for Bruce in several
years. He had played in at least 148 of the Reds 162 games every season since
2010.
Bruce is expected to placed on the disabled list Tuesday
and replaced by Roger Bernadina, who cleared waivers on Monday.
The Reds start a two-game series at Boston on Tuesday.
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Reds outfielder Jay Bruce. File photo
