A.J. Ellis injury: Dodgers catcher has left knee surgery

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis had left knee surgery on Friday to repair tears to the medial and lateral meniscus, which were debrided. The catcher is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

The 30-minute clean-up procedure was performed by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Ellis will begin physical therapy next week, and can begin his normal offseason workout routine in six weeks. A Dodgers spokesman said Ellis is expected to be fully competitive at the start of spring training.

Ellis excelled in his first full season as a major league starter, hitting .270/.373/.414 in 133 games. He hit 13 home runs to set a new professional career high, and was more than he hit in his previous four seasons in the majors and minors combined.

The 31-year old, who had 51 major league starts coming into 2012, was fourth in the majors with 131 games caught (128 starts) and 1,151 innings behind the plate. Despite the pending offseason surgery, Ellis in the final week of the season said the mental grind of a major league season was the most taxing.

"With the major league catching position, you're never afforded the luxury of your brain turning off," Ellis said. "it just weighs on you after a while."

Ellis won the Roy Campanella Award in 2012, an honor voted on by Dodgers players and coaches and given to the player who most exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the Hall of Fame catcher. Ellis was presented with the award on Sept. 30 at Dodger Stadium.

Ellis will be arbitration eligible this offseason for the first time, as a Super Two player, one of the upper 22% of players with at least two but not yet three years of service. Ellis has two years, 151 days of service time.