Blue Jays' Saunders to miss 4-6 weeks following knee surgery; could rejoin team in April

Michael Saunders will be suiting up for the Toronto Blue Jays much sooner than initially anticipated.

Saunders was originally expected to miss up to four months after tearing his meniscus while shagging fly balls Wednesday at his club's spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla. After having 60 percent of his meniscus removed Friday, however, the 28-year-old is slated to miss only four-to-six weeks and will likely rejoin the Blue Jays in mid-April, according to multiple reports.

Saunders, a British Columbia native repatriated after the Blue Jays acquired him from the Seattle Mariners in December, is expected to walk out of the hospital and can begin running in two weeks. According to Scott MacArthur of TSN, the six-year veteran could return in time to see some Grapefruit League action.

"Having him back sooner is great, and nice that he’s got a chance to be back by the middle of April," general manager Alex Anthopoulos told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi. "If he recovers well, it could be a little sooner. I think the standard is four to six weeks, but just because we’re in spring training and trying to get ready, and talking with the doctors, he’s going to need at-bats. That’s maybe where it’s going to take a little bit longer."

Anthopoulos started making calls about potential replacements for Saunders shortly after the outfielder injured his knee, but appears unlikely to make a deal after receiving the revised prognosis.

"Definitely a big change there, so that certainly would change our outlook," said Anthopoulos.