The Los Angeles Dodgers had a busy transactional day on Monday. In addition to placing Matt Kemp on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, the Dodgers also placed third baseman Juan Uribe on the DL with a left wrist injury.
Uribe was in the starting lineup Monday, but complained of pain in his left wrist, an injury that has plagued him at various times this season. He had a cortisone shot in Colorado, but the Dodgers decided to give Uribe time to let him heal.
"They told me then that this thing could come back, and if it does they'd have to do more tests. Hopefully it's something that is not major, and he'll be back in two weeks," said manager Don Mattingly. "We're a better lineup when he's out there."
The loss of Uribe isn't nearly as costly as Kemp, as he was hitting just .250/.302/.338, but Uribe does have defensive value. He will be replaced by some combination of Adam Kennedy, Justin Sellers, and newcomer Elian Herrera, who was promoted from Triple A Albuquerque to take Uribe's place on the roster.
Herrera is a 27-year old utility man who has never been on a major league roster before. He was hitting .358 as the leadoff man for Albuquerque, and plays all over the diamond.
"I have seen Elian so much in spring training the last few years, and every time he came over he got hits," Mattingly said. "He's played center field, he's played right, left, second, short, third. It sounds like he's been good everywhere."
To make room for Herrera on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated outfielder Trent Oeltjen for assignment.
For more news on Kemp and the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.
