Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Minnesota Twins star prospect Jason Kubel ended his brilliant breakout season with a broken knee.

Kubel tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is believed to have extensive ligament damage that will require surgery, according to a report on the Minnesota Twins Web site.

Kubel will be examined by orthopedist Frank Jobe in Los Angeles in the next couple of days and is expected to be sidelined for nine months to a year missing the entire 2005 season, the report states. He is expected to make a full recovery.

A 12th-round draft pick, Kubel was injured when he collided with another player in the outfield while playing his first game in the Arizona Fall League.

The 5-11, 180-pounder started the season in Double-A with New Britain where he tore up Eastern League pitching to the tune of a .373 average. In 37 games, he collected 14 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI and 19 walks.

Kubel was promoted to Triple-A Rochester where he led the International League with a .343 average. He racked up 71 runs, 28 doubles, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, 34 walks and 16 stolen bases. He was named International League Rookie of the Year and a post-season all-star.

Those numbers earned Kubel a late-season call up to the Minnesota Twins. In 23 games, he batted .300 with two homers, seven RBIs and started Game Two of the playoffs for the Twins as the DH.

"It's a bad deal," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said on his squad's Official Web site. "It's going to be a long ordeal. It's a shame.

"This is a serious injury. I feel bad for Jason. He had a tremendous year for us."

How the Twins respond to Kubel's injury remains to be seen, but there will likely be ramifications. Kubel was expected to compete with Lew Ford for the starting job in right field, which was occupied this season by arbitration- eligible Jacque Jones. The Twins will now have to decide whether or not to offer Jones arbitration or move ahead with Ford as their full time right fielder.