Dodgers’ Hanley Ramirez will have surgery, out for eight weeks
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Hanley Ramirez will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and is expected to be sidelined for the first two months of the regular season.
The Dodgers shortstop was injured diving for a ball on Tuesday in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic.
“It’s something I can’t control,” Ramirez told reporters at the Dodgers’ spring training complex in Phoenix. “It could’ve happened anywhere. It could’ve happened here. It unfortunately happened in the WBC. It’s very disappointing.”
Ramirez, who played for the tournament champion Dominican Republic, said he initially didn’t think the injury was severe. In fact, Ramirez protested his removal from the game.
“It wasn’t that bad,” he said. “Maybe because I was warm. But after I got out of the game, after a couple minutes, I started cooling down, and I started feeling it.”
The operation will be performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Steve Shin, a sports medicine hand specialist at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Shin will repair the ligament that stabilizes the thumb. Ramirez’s thumb will be immobilized for three weeks. His return would be approximately in eight weeks, according to the Dodgers.
With Ramirez out, Luis Cruz will likely be moved from third base to shortstop. Cruz was played 23 games at shortstop last season.
If Cruz is moved to shortstop, the Dodgers could rotate Juan Uribe, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Nick Punto at third base.
Another option would be to play Dee Gordon at shortstop. Gordon struggled last season as a first-year starter, but has shown improved plate discipline this spring. Though he is batting a modest .241 in the Cactus League, Gordon has drawn eight walks in 38 plate appearances.
By playing Gordon at shortstop, the Dodgers could keep Cruz at his more natural position at third base.
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