Cards OF Craig recovering from knee surgery

Dallas, TX – As if the St. Louis Cardinals don't have enough to worry about at the moment, now comes word that outfielder Allen Craig could miss the start of the season following surgery to repair a fractured right kneecap.

The recovery time for such a procedure is four-to-six months, leaving his status for Opening Day in doubt.

"We have a very talented medical staff that will deal with that, and we've been staying on top of it and keeping posted, and we'll figure that out as we get closer and find out exactly where he is in that process," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told the media on Tuesday.

Craig initially injured the knee when he crashed into a wall at Houston's Minute Maid Park in early June and missed over two months. However, he returned in August and was a huge factor for the Cardinals down the stretch as well as in the postseason, where he delivered crucial pinch-hit RBI singles in the first two games of the World Series.

In 75 games last season, the 27-year-old hit .315 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI.