Blue Jays' Saunders out until All-Star break with torn meniscus

The already-thin outfield of the Toronto Blue Jays has been dealt a significant blow. 

Michael Saunders will miss the first half of the season after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee, the team announced. 

The six-year veteran will require surgery and is not expected to return until after the All-Star break.

Saunders stepped on a soft spot around an underground sprinkler while shagging fly balls Wednesday at the team's spring training facility and felt his knee buckle. 

"I don’t know exactly how it happened," Saunders told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. "It stopped me in my tracks and I heard a pop."

The Blue Jays acquired the 28-year-old from the Seattle Mariners in December in exchange for pitcher J.A. Happ, with Saunders expected to serve as the team's starting left fielder. 

Saunders, who missed 65 games last season with inflammation in his right shoulder and a strained oblique, spoke candidly earlier this week about his excitement to join the Blue Jays coming off a frustrating year. 

The Blue Jays open camp Thursday for position players with Jose Bautista, Dalton Pompey and Kevin Pillar as the only outfielders on their 40-man roster. 

General manager Alex Anthopoulos told Scott MacArthur of TSN that the plan is to have internal competition to replace Saunders. Ezequiel Carrera, Chris Dickerson, Andy Dirks and Caleb Gindl represent non-roster invitees who have experience in the outfield.