Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto will undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, a procedure that will sideline the Reds best hitter for three to four weeks.

Votto injured his knee while sliding into third base during a June 29 match in San Francisco. Votto continued to play through his starting performance in the NL All-Star game last Tuesday. The tear inVotto’s knee was not discovered until a medical exam on Monday night.

Votto will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the cartilage and will rest his need for nearly one months time.

General manager Walt Jocketty explained why Joey Votto did not have an MRI earlier:

”He didn’t request it until then. He said it wasn’t a problem until the last couple of days.”

The simple procedure will only take 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

In a statement regarding the surgery Votto told his fans:

”It is in my best interest and in the best interest of the team to do it now so that I can be healthy during the last two months of the pennant race.”

The loss of Votta couldn’t come at a worse time for the NL Central leaders. Votto this season is batting .342 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs. Votto also leads the league in on-base percentage and extra-base hits.

The Reds did not immediately announce a temporary replacement on their roster.

While Cincinnati remains in first place it has been the teams pitching and a top rated defense that has helped the team keep the number one spot for 45 days. The Cincinnati offense ranks in the middle of the pack.

Votto signed a 10-year contract extension worth $225 million before the start of the season.

Joey Votto To Undergo Surgery, Will Miss Three To Four Weeks is a post from: The Inquisitr