The Phillies announced Tuesday that rookie third baseman Maikel Franco has been placed on the 15-day DL with a small fracture in his left wrist, an injury that General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said could put Franco out for the year.
In a corresponding move, the club called up outfielder Aaron Altherr from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Franco was injured last Tuesday when he was hit by a Jeremy Hellickson pitch in a game against the Diamondbacks. Initial X-rays that night were negative, but Franco showed no improvement after a few days and was sent for an MRI this week, which revealed the small fracture.
In a corresponding move, the club called up outfielder Aaron Altherr from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Franco was injured last Tuesday when he was hit by a Jeremy Hellickson pitch in a game against the Diamondbacks. Initial X-rays that night were negative, but Franco showed no improvement after a few days and was sent for an MRI this week, which revealed the small fracture.
During his absence, the club is expected to have Cesar Hernandez and Andres Blanco split time at the hot corner.
Franco had been putting together a solid rookie campaign prior to the injury, compiling a .277 average with an .830 OPS, 13 home runs, 22 doubles and 48 RBIs in 77 games.
While the injury puts one of the Phillies key building blocks for the future out of commission, it allows another, Altherr, to get some experience.
Altherr, who went hitless in five at-bats with the Phillies last season, has impressed so far this season in the minors, hitting .293 with an .854 OPS, 32 doubles, 14 home runs and 67 RBIs in 111 games across Double-A and Triple-A.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Franco had been putting together a solid rookie campaign prior to the injury, compiling a .277 average with an .830 OPS, 13 home runs, 22 doubles and 48 RBIs in 77 games.
While the injury puts one of the Phillies key building blocks for the future out of commission, it allows another, Altherr, to get some experience.
Altherr, who went hitless in five at-bats with the Phillies last season, has impressed so far this season in the minors, hitting .293 with an .854 OPS, 32 doubles, 14 home runs and 67 RBIs in 111 games across Double-A and Triple-A.
By: Kyle Babcock
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
RSS Feed
