The Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Desmond Jennings on the 15-day disabled list Monday evening with a fractured finger, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The DL stint is backdated to Sunday, Aug. 4.
Desmond Jennings injury: Rays place OF on disabled list
Tampa Bay thought Jennings had just sprained his middle finger over the weekend, but a follow-up test has revealed a small break.
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Jennings, 26, jammed the middle finger on his left (non-throwing) hand while sliding into second base on Saturday. Initial X-rays showed no signs of a fracture -- leading the Rays to classify the injury as a sprain -- but a subsequent test taken Monday revealed a small break.
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The suspensions Nelson Cruz and Jhonny Peralta could have a significant effect on the American League playoff race.Jennings hasn’t quite been the player that many hoped he’d be when he was promoted to the outfield full-time two years ago, but he’s still managed to become an above-average center fielder. In 104 games so far this year, Jennings is batting .258/.326/.419 with 11 home runs.
With Jennings out for at least the next two weeks, Tampa Bay has recalled outfielder Jason Bourgeois to take his roster spot. This will be the 31-year-old Bourgeois' first taste of big-league action this season. The journeyman outfielder signed a minor-league pact with the Rays over the winter, but has spent the entire season up to now at Triple-A Durham, where he's batting .291/.336/.371 in 363 plate appearances.
Bourgeois, a right-handed hitter, will likely share time in center with Sam Fuld (a lefty) until Jennings can return to the lineup.
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