Defender Jimmy Medranda will miss the remainder of the 2018 season because of a knee injury, according to Sporting Kansas City.
Medranda had exploratory surgery on Friday, revealing a cartilage defect in his left knee, the club stated in a news release. He will undergo further surgery to repair the injury and is expected to be sidelined for eight months.
Medranda, 24, appeared in each of Sporting KC’s first 12 MLS matches this season, making eight starts with two goals and one assist.
He opened his 2018 scoring account in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire on March 10 and bagged an MLS Goal of the Week nominee in a 6-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 20. Five days earlier, he assisted Graham Zusi’s late equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders FC.
A member of Sporting KC since 2013, Medranda has tallied five goals and six assists in 97 games for the club across all competitions.
Currently occupying second place in the Western Conference, Sporting Kansas City (11-6-6, 39 points) will return to Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday to meet the third-place Portland Timbers (10-4-7, 37 points). Tickets for the marquee matchup are available via SeatGeek.com with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.