Blue Jays’ Saunders scheduled for surgery Friday

Michael-Saunders;-Toronto-Blue-Jays

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders is making progress in Florida.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday afternoon to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

The Victoria native suffered the injury two days earlier when he jammed his foot on a sprinkler head indentation at the team’s spring training complex. The surgery was to be done in Florida by Steven Mirabello, the Jays’ consulting orthopedic surgeon.

Saunders is expected to be out until the all-star break in mid-July although there is a scenario that could see him back sooner depending on the extent of the surgery.

"We’re not expecting that," said Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "It could happen though."

That scenario calls for a recovery period to four to six weeks but in that case the knee may require further medical attention after his playing career.

The freak accident has prompted the team to look at its training fields, Anthopoulos said.

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