Ken Griffey Jr. will have surgery on

his left knee and right hamstring Monday, presumably ending a

stellar comeback season for the oft-injured Cincinnati Reds

star. The 35-year-old center fielder is expected to be ready

for spring training.

 

He will have arthroscopic surgery to clean out his left

knee and treat scar tissue around his hamstring. The

hamstring injury threatened his career last season.

 

Griffey missed his 15th straight game Wednesday night

because of a sprained right foot. He is batting .301 with 35

home runs and 92 RBIs in 128 games. Griffey is tied with

Mickey Mantle for 12th on the career home run list with 536.

 

Griffey hurt his foot rounding second base in early

September in a game against Atlanta. At the time, the Reds

said they thought he'd be able to play again this year.

 

Despite Griffey's return, the Reds fell from contention

early in the season. At 70-81, they were 25 games behind St.

Louis in the NL Central by Thursday.

 

In late August, there were reports the AL Central-leading

Chicago White Sox tried to trade for Griffey. His agent said

Griffey had no desire to leave his hometown team.

 

The Reds acquired Griffey in a trade with the Seattle

Mariners in February 2000. He has a nine-year, $116.5 million

contract that runs through 2008 and has the right to veto any

trade.

 

Since his first year with the Reds, Griffey has missed

significant playing time every season. His worst injury

occurred last year, when he tore his right hamstring from the

bone and had it reattached with three titanium screws in

August.

 

The hamstring hadn't fully recovered by spring training

and he got off to a slow start before finding his swing and

looking like the old Junior.

 

 

Source: AP

Poor Jr.

Oh well. He's had one hell of a year. He's my fav player besides Edmonds in baseball.. it sucks he's out for the rest of the year and shut down but he had a great year

It's really not that big of a deal. Ovbiously any surgery is, but he will be fine for ST next year.

It's really not that big of a deal. Ovbiously any surgery is, but he will be fine for ST next year.

 

 

what is his contract status for 2006 and beyond?

It's really not that big of a deal. Ovbiously any surgery is, but he will be fine for ST next year.

 

 

what is his contract status for 2006 and beyond?

 

Signed through '09.:

 

Dugout Dollars

This really sucks. I was so glad to the Griffey Jr of old again... And while it's good, I guess, that it happened late.. meaning he didn't miss much of season and sure he'll be fine for next year... I'm sure it's gonna bug the hell out of him all offseason. He was finally healthy, on the way to completing a season and he has to hang it up for the year...

 

Sucks... I hope he comes back next year just as strong...

He was so close to finally completely a season.

What a shame that hes been nagged by injuries. I wish him good luck for next year.

What sucks? Neither surgery is major, and both will have a positive impact rather quickly. The knee clean-up will only make him better and relieve pain, and the hamstring surgery is only to clean up the original incisions so there is no longer drainage.