BRADENTON, Fla. — NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez, frustrated with a slow-to-heal knee injury as opening day approaches, sought a second opinion Monday that confirmed the Pittsburgh Pirates' evaluation of a sprained right knee ligament.

The Pirates second baseman was hurt turning a double play March 6. Still unable to run the bases or make sharp cuts in the field, he flew to Birmingham, Ala., to be evaluated and undergo a second MRI test by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews.

Andrews, best associated with performing ligament-replacement surgery on pitchers' injured elbows, found no tears or other previously unseen problems in Sanchez's knee.

"It's great news on Freddy," manager Jim Tracy said. "When Freddy Sanchez is ready to go, we will get him back out there."

Sanchez will resume his conditioning program today and, unless there is significant improvement in the next several days, is expected to start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said the injury evaluation process is simple: Sanchez tells the club how he feels and, until he is comfortable running the bases and moving laterally, he won't play.

"The evaluation was the same as we had," Littlefield said. "Basically, it's a right knee sprain and he'll continue to work back to playing. It's a go-as-he-feels scenario. The better he feels, the quicker he'll get out there."

The sprain was initially described by the Pirates as being mild and Sanchez was listed as day to day. But he has been unable to play, causing the NL All-Star infielder to grow impatient.

"It's frustrating, it's disappointing," Sanchez said.

Sanchez decided to meet with Andrews to make sure there was no undiscovered condition slowing his recovery.

The Pirates have until 3 p.m. Sunday to decide whether to put Sanchez on the disabled list for opening day. The roster move can be backdated by about 10 days.