UPDATE: Kratz heads to the DL, needs surgery

June 9, 2013

By Nick Tricome
Follow @itssnick215

UPDATE: Kratz will require surgery after his MRI revealed a "medial meniscus tear" in his left knee, according to the Phillies' official Twitter account.

The timetable for Kratz's return will be set after he has had the surgery.

The MRI on Erik Kratz' left knee revealed a medial meniscus tear. Surgery will be required...recovery time will be known after surgery.
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 10, 2013

ORIGINAL: Catcher Erik Kratz is headed to the 15-day disabled list after injuring his knee in the ninth inning of Saturday night's 4-3 loss to Milwaukee.



Kratz came up limp after running out a ground ball to short and left the game following the play.

According to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury, Kratz was not available to speak after the game, but was seen walking around with crutches.

Manager Charlie Manuel did comment though, saying that Kratz felt his knee pop while he was running to first.

"It didn't look good," Manuel said. "We'll get it looked at."

“He said when he was running he felt something pop," Manuel added. "It was hurting him.”

Kratz has put up eight home runs with 22 RBIs and a .290 on base percentage in 43 games played. He is second on the team in home runs behind Domonic Brown, who leads the NL with 19, and fourth in RBI's behind Brown (47), Ryan Howard (30) and Chase Utley (25).

Carlos Ruiz is still on the DL with a right hamstring strain and isn't expected back until mid-June.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reported via Twitter that catcher Steven Lerud has been called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Kratz's spot on the roster.

This leaves the Phillies with Lerud and Humberto Quintero as their two catchers until at least Ruiz or Kratz can comeback.

Zolecki also tweeted that Kratz is flying back to Philadelphia to have an MRI on Monday.

(Image from The700Level.com)