Day after knee surgery, Jones back in dugout

By David O'Brien

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Not quite 24 hours after having knee surgery, Chipper Jones was back in the Braves' dugout Sunday, on crutches and more upbeat than perhaps expected for someone facing a long rehabilitation and uncertain future.

"I knew if the guys saw me up and around, in good spirits, they're going to bust their cans trying to stay on top in the NL East," the 38-year-old third baseman said Sunday morning during batting practice. He didn't stay in the dugout during the 13-1 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jones had surgery Saturday to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament and damaged cartilage in his left knee -- the knee he had fixed 16 years ago when he tore the ACL as a rookie.

The latest surgery was done through an arthroscope, rather than the more invasive procedure he had in 1994 when the knee was cut open.

"I feel like I came out of surgery two or three weeks ahead of where I was last time," Jones said. "I have a ton more range of motion than I did 24 hours after surgery last time."

He has two years and $28 million left on his contract, and hopes to be ready for spring training. But he knows it could take a little longer, and that there are no guarantees he'll make it back at all.

"I guess over the last two months I've come to the realization, not to sound brash or anything, that I'm more valuable than I thought I was," said Jones, who had been in a hitting resurgence from June 15 until his injury Tuesday at Houston.

"I would miss that if I were to make the decision now to turn away, I think I would regret it. That's why I didn't make it. I think for my own peace of mind I need to act like I'm going to spring training to get this thing better….

"If it's good, great. I'm sure I'll have my spot. If it's not, and I need more time, I've got a good [rapport] with Frank [Wren, Braves general manager]. I'll hopefully have a good rapport with the next manager and be able to say, ‘Look, I'm not quite ready yet.' I don't want to have it turn into a Tommy Glavine situation. That would be what I would hate the most. But I'll know. And I'll make the decision.

"If the Braves come to me in spring training and say, ‘Hey, this is it. We’ve got this kid’ or ‘We have somebody else,’ then it will be decision time."

Medlen surgery on Wednesday

Now that the decision is made, Braves pitcher Kris Medlen says he's eager to have ligament-transplant elbow surgery Wednesday and get started on a rehab program that typically requires 12 months.

Medlen left an Aug. 4 start against the New York Mets with partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He had a final exam Sunday before Braves doctors advised him that "Tommy John" surgery was needed to repair the damage.

"At first I was trying to avoid it, but I think it's going to be for the best," said Medlen, 24. "I'm excited just to get it over with. But I'm starting to get a little nervous."

Dr. James Andrews will do the surgery at his clinic in Birmingham. Andrews did the "Tommy John" procedure for veteran Tim Hudson on Aug. 8, 2008, and Hudson returned to the Braves rotation last September.

Hudson is a Cy Young Award candidate, with a 14-5 record and 2.13 ERA.

Medlen was 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 31 games, and the Braves were 13-1 in his 14 starts.

Heyward rests sore knee

Jason Heyward was out of the lineup Sunday with a sore right knee, the third start the rookie right fielder has missed in five games since injuring the knee in last Monday's game at Houston.

Cox said he didn't think the injury was serious and expected Heyward to play in Monday night's series finale against the Dodgers.

Heyward was injured when he banged his knee into the ground attempting a sliding catch on a bloop single.

"It didn't swell up at all, I don't think, the day after it happened or the next two days," Cox said. "It swelled up a little bit the first game against the Dodgers [Friday] and again this morning. So we'll give him the day off. If he had to pinch-hit or play, he could."

Since a three-double, two-RBI game July 30 at Cincinnati, Heyward has gone 6-for-43 (.140) with one RBI, six walks and 10 strikeouts in his past 12 games. His six hits included four doubles and a homer.

Prado to rehab at Gwinnett

Martin Prado is set to play his first rehab game Monday at Triple-A Gwinnett, which might be all he needs before rejoining the big club.

The All-Star second baseman has been out since breaking his right pinkie July 30 while sliding headfirst into home plate at Cincinnati.

He could play plenty at third base when he returns, if the Braves leave Omar Infante at second. Prado might play some at both positions, with Brooks Conrad getting some starts at third base.

Prado felt some pain in the finger when he faced live pitching Friday for the first time since his injury, but said it was better Saturday and again Sunday. He also tested it with some infield throws Sunday.

Lefty reliever Eric O'Flaherty could be returning soon from a brief rehab stint at Gwinnett. He's been recovering from mononucleosis and pitched a perfect inning Sunday in his second Triple-A appearance.