"Cardinals outfielder Allen Craig had surgery on his right knee a week before Thanksgiving and the club is braced for the possibility that he won't be available for opening day, an official confirmed.

Craig, who caught the final out of the World Series, had a couple screws placed in his right kneecap to repair the damage done in the middle of last season when he crashed into a rigid fence at Houston's Minute Maid Park.

Craig returned from the injury to finish out the season as a key part of the Cardinals' rally. Craig hit .327 with five homers and 12 RBIs in September, and he added four homers in the postseason. Craig had two key pinch-hit appearances in the World Series before taking over as the starter in left field for Game 7. Craig hit three homers in the World Series."