Grady Sizemore’s trip to Colorado for a checkup culminated in surgery on Monday. Now the Indians must decide whether it’s to their advantage to exercise the $9 million option in Sizemore’s contract.
Dr. Richard Steadman performed an arthroscopic procedure in Vail to speed the healing process of the nagging bone bruise in Sizemore’s right knee that cost him most of the 2011 season.
Recovery from the operation is expected to be six to eight weeks, which means Sizemore should be completely healthy for spring training in February.
Monday’s surgery was totally different than the micro-fracture procedure he underwent in 2010 to repair his left knee.
In a prepared statement, Sizemore said: “We could not be happier with the results of Monday’s arthroscopy. Dr. Steadman told me this minor procedure should allow the bone bruise in my right knee to fully heal.”
Sizemore incurred the injury when his knee slammed into a base during a game in mid-May. He spent two weeks on the disabled list but aggravated the injury in mid-July and went back on the DL until Sept. 5.
His injury situation was complicated by a sports hernia that also required surgery. Sizemore played a few games in September but was shut down again toward the end of the month, precipitating the visit to Vail.
Sizemore, 29, has missed large chunks of the past three seasons with a variety of injuries. Certainly that will play into whether General Manager Chris Antonetti picks up the option, tries to negotiate a new deal worth less money or looks elsewhere for an outfielder.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
