Gallardo to miss 4 weeks after knee surgery

Gallardo to miss 4 weeks after knee surgery
By Tom Haudricourt
Sunday, Feb 17 2008, 02:48 PM

Phoenix -- Right-hander Yovani Gallardo indeed does have torn cartilage in his left knee and will return to Milwaukee tomorrow to have arthroscopic surgery.

Gallardo is expected to be sidelined four weeks, virtually guaranteeing he will open the season on the disabled list. That would leave just two weeks in camp, not sufficient time for the 22-year-old right-hander to get ready for the regular season.

The official diagnosis on Gallardo is a lateral meniscus (cartilage) tear in the knee.

Gallardo apparently suffered the injury during a throwing session a few days ago. He experienced swelling in the knee afterward, and was examined by team physician William Raasch today as pitchers and catchers took physicals at the outset of spring camp.

Raasch will perform the arthroscopic surgery on Gallardo's knee on Tuesday, and he will return the next day to do his rehab with the club.

Gallardo was expected to assume one of the top spots in the Brewers' starting rotation this season after going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 20 outings (17) starts last year as a rookie. He was one of eight candidates for five spots in the rotation, so that number already has been reduced to seven before the first official workout Monday.

"That's why you've got to be careful (about having extra pitching)," said general manager Doug Melvin. "You never want to trade somebody and have one injury, and you're too short (of pitching)."

And it appears catcher Lou Palmisano is headed for a similar fate. Palmisano will undergo an MRI examination Monday to confirm a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.