The San Diego Padres placed right fielder Ramon Laureano on the 10-day injured list on Saturday because of a fractured right finger that is expected to keep him out of the wild-card series.
The move is retroactive to last Thursday. In a corresponding move, San Diego recalled third baseman Will Wagner from the team’s Arizona League club.
“I want to temper expectations,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said on Wednesday of Laureano’s status. “But I also want to keep everything on the table. I wouldn’t expect to see him early in the playoffs, but I would hold out hope for later.”
The Padres entered Saturday’s play at 88-72 and a lock on the second National League wild-card berth. They’ll begin the postseason with a best-of-three series on the road against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Laureano, 31, hasn’t played since Wednesday, when he fractured his right index finger while swinging at a pitch in the second inning of a 3-1 home loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He stayed in the game to finish the at-bat against right-hander Chad Patrick and struck out looking.
Laureano is battling .269 with nine home runs and 30 RBIS in 50 games for the Padres. This season, including 82 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Laureano is batting .281 with 24 homers and 76 RBIs, a .342 on-base percentage, .512 slugging percentage and .854 OPS.
The Padres obtained Laureano, All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and cash from the Orioles for six minor league prospects at the trade deadline.
San Diego acquired Wagner, 27, at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league catcher/first baseman Brandon Valenzuela. Wagner is 1-for-12 (.083) in 14 games for the Padres after going 27-for-114 (.237) in 40 games for the Blue Jays.
–Field Level Media
