Third baseman Chipper Jones underwent an MRI during yesterday’s game that revealed he has a small meniscus tear in his right knee, reports David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Jones received an injection in his right knee when he returned to Turner Field Sunday and hopes to avoid surgery. O’Brien says though that if the pain hasn’t subsided in a few days he could be facing arthroscopic surgery.

“We’ll know in a couple days,” Jones said. “If the shot helps then I’ll play as long as I can. If the shot doesn’t help then they’ll go in and clean it up.”

The Braves third baseman underwent a similar procedure on his left knee back in 1996, but he only missed a little more than two weeks.

Jones has missed five games this season adds O’Brien, two for injury, and three for scheduled days off. “Today was awful,” he said. “I took about five swings in the cage and walked out, still thought I might loosen up, maybe some of the pain medication might kick in. But 10 minutes from starting the game, suited up, went out to run and I just couldn’t do it today.”

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.