Unsure of return, Quentin to get second opinion

SAN DIEGO -- Outfielder Carlos Quentin told MLB.com on Friday that he has damage to the bone in his left knee and that he will get a second opinion on a bone bruise next week in Los Angeles.

Quentin, who has been on the disabled list since July 27, is holding out hope that he can play again this season.

"Right now, I'm just working to try and get that opportunity," Quentin said Friday. "But I'm not sure."

On Friday afternoon, Quentin was working to set an appointment next week with Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles. ElAttrache is also the head physician for the Dodgers.

"I'm waiting to get the second opinion to get some more information, get a set rehab [schedule] and a set direction of how to come back and prevent this from happening again," Quentin said. "But right now ... this just needs to heal. There's nothing else that can be done."

The bone bruise in Quentin's left knee is the same injury he sustained in Spring Training, the one that caused him to miss the first 39 games of the season.

"I've had pain ever since. The pain minimized for a time. I was able to get back. But it has progressively gotten worse," Quentin said. "The downside came before the All-Star break in Los Angeles. It wasn't feeling good going into the break. After four days of rest [All-Star break], it didn't rebound."

Quentin, who is hitting .177 this season with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 130 at-bats, appeared in two games last weekend against the Braves in Atlanta. His last at-bat came as a pinch-hitter on July 26. He went on the disabled list the following day.

"It's horrible when you don't have good performance on the field," Quentin said. "And when your last good knee seems to be chronically damaged ... you're examining different ways of trying to be productive.

"But we'll get that diagnosis and get some more eyes on my knee and see what can be done."

Since joining the Padres in a trade with the White Sox on Dec. 31, 2011, Quentin has had three surgeries on his right knee. In parts of three seasons with the Padres, Quentin has a .251/.352/464 slash line with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs in 218 games.

Quentin is making $9.5 million this season and is set to make $8 million next season.