Ken Griffey Jr. went through periods this season when he couldn’t play because of swelling and fluid buildup in his left knee. A procedure today in Cincinnati may have revealed the source of the problem.
Griffey, 39, had a bone spur removed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek in an arthroscopic outpatient procedure. Kremchek is the same doctor who operated on the knee last October when Griffey had torn cartilage and a torn meniscus repaired. That surgery was more severe than what Griffey went through today, and a release from the Mariners said the normal recovery period from such a procedure is 4-6 weeks.
It’s still unknown whether Griffey will return to the Mariners next year. He said on the last day of the season Oct. 4 that he would like to return, but the ultimate decision depends on the wishes of his family and the Mariners. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said last week that he spoke with Griffey during the final homestand this season. Zduriencik, in an August interview, said he hoped Griffey would return next year in some capacity but didn’t specify whether it would be as a player.
The two sides are expected to continue talks and Griffey’s status for next season could be resolved in as little as the next few weeks.
Griffey played 117 games this year and batted .214 with 19 home runs and 57 runs batted in. While his offense was limited, nobody discounted the positive impact Griffey made in the clubhouse.
Today’s surgery may have addressed the main reason Griffye missed periods of time this season because of soreness, swelling and fluid in the knee. The hope is that Griffey will be able to move more freely with the bone spur removed from the knee.
The big question now is whether he’ll be moving more freely swinging a baseball bat or a golf club.
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