Athletics Closer Grant Balfour has Knee Surgery - East Idaho News
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Athletics Closer Grant Balfour has Knee Surgery

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Getty Grant Balfour?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360919822150Robert Binder/MLB Photos via Getty Images(PHOENIX) — Oakland Athletics closer Grant Balfour had successful right knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus Thursday.

The rehabilitation is expected to last four to six weeks leaving Balfour hopeful he can be ready for the start of the regular season.

“I feel good about getting it done now,” Balfour said. “It will allow me to get ready for Game 1 of the season. I knew the way I was feeling I wouldn’t have been able to pitch through it all season long.”

Athletics skipper Bob Melvin said Balfour had experienced soreness in the knee at the end of last season, but the pain had subsided in the offseason. Balfour felt pain before his bullpen session on Wednesday, prompting the A’s to send him for an MRI that exposed the tear.

The 35-year-old Balfour compiled 24 saves to go along with a 2.53 ERA and a .92 WHIP last season.

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