Magglio Ordonez's 2010 season was cut short due to a fractured ankle, for which the slugger required surgery. He was aiming to be back to good health with the Tigers in 2011, but he's been bothered by ankle problems on and off since the start of the season, and even though he said he felt like the ankle was coming around a couple weeks ago, on Friday the Tigers have placed Ordonez on the disabled list.
Magglio Ordonez Ankle Injury Forces Tigers Slugger To DL
The prayer is that giving Ordonez some time off will finally allow his ankle to heal, because he just has not been himself in the early going. When he’s gotten into the lineup, he’s been a terrible hitter, owning a .172 batting average with but a single home run. That’s a far cry from the .852 OPS he put up a season ago before getting hurt. There was no sense in trying to force Ordonez along any further because he was not going to play himself into shape.
To take Ordonez's spot on the roster, the Tigers have called up 25-year-old outfielder Andy Dirks, who will join a Major League ballclub for the first time in his life. With Toledo, he's batted .328 with a .902 OPS. This after posting a 1.046 OPS with Toledo a season ago over a small sample of games and being named the Tigers' 2010 Minor League Player of the Year. It isn't immediately clear how much playing time he's going to get, but he won't just sit on the bench.
See More:
