Report: Jay Bruce needs knee surgery, out 3-4 weeks

Jay Bruce is hitting just .218 this season, but he has hit more than 30 homers in each of his last three seasons. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce will undergo surgery on a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss three to four weeks, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reported Sunday.

Bruce had been scratched from the Reds' starting lineup against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday with what the team described as knee soreness. But he came off the bench in the seventh inning to pinch hit, in an at-bat that ended in a strikeout.

Bruce is hitting just .216 this season with three home runs and 14 RBI. He has missed only one of the Reds' first 31 games this season. Bruce hit at least 30 homers in each of his last three seasons.