Cleveland Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta left Friday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after being trapped in a rundown and rolling his right ankle. On Saturday, the team placed LaPorta on the disabled list and recalled Travis Buck from triple-A Columbus to take his place on the roster.
Matt LaPorta Placed On Disabled List; Indians Recall Travis Buck
MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian notes that Buck has very little experience playing first base:
Travis Buck has played 1B in exactly zero innings in the big leagues. He saw some time there this spring & again sparsely with Columbus.
Catcher Carlos Santana has played a few games at first this season, but he figures to be largely occupied behind the plate. Bastian also reports that manager Manny Acta is drilling both Santana and Buck on defense.
In 2011, LaPorta has turned in a .733 OPS -- respectable, but not exactly outstanding for a first baseman. Buck, who has bounced in and out of the major leagues for the last five years, doesn’t figure to represent much of an improvement if he does indeed shoulder the Tribe’s first-base duties.
For more on the Indians, check out SB Nation’s Let’s Go Tribe!
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