DENVER — Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday after an appendectomy.
DENVER — Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday after an appendectomy.
The team said late Monday that Heyward had surgery at Rose Medical Center in Denver.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said before the opener of Tuesday’s day-night doubleheader against Colorado that there was no set timetable for Heyward’s return. The Braves recalled infielder Tyler Pastornicky from Triple A Gwinnett to fill Heyward’s roster spot.
Heyward was off to a slow start, batting .121 with two homers and five RBIs. Still, the Braves began the day with a 13-5 record.
“A couple of days ago when we were in Pittsburgh, he felt like he had some stomach fires going,” Gonzalez said, “and then it just kept getting more localized, moving to his right side.”
After Monday night’s game was postponed due to snow and the Braves returned to their hotel in Denver, Heyward called team trainers and said pain in his right side had become acute.
Team physician Dr. Joe Chandler examined Heyward, and tests revealed the problem with his appendix. Chandler accompanied Heyward to the hospital, with the Rockies medical staff helping smooth the admission process.
“Everything went well,” Gonzalez said. “Dr. Chandler was here and he did a terrific job. The doctors from the Rockies helped out and got him into the hospital here. They got him in and got him out (of surgery) in about 45 minutes.”
Gonzalez said he had a chance to visit with Heyward in the hospital before coming to the ballpark.
“He was in good spirits, beat up a little bit, as you can expect, from the surgery,” Gonzalez said. “He’s just drained.”
Gonzalez expects Reed Johnson and Jordan Schafer will see time in right field in Heyward’s absence. Johnson was scheduled to start Tuesday’s opener.
Left fielder Justin Upton has played right field in the past.
“Justin is doing a great job in left field and why would I want to move him back for 10-12 days? He’s getting used to that left-field position, so we’ll just leave him there,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said Heyward may be discharged from the hospital as soon as Tuesday night but may remain in Denver for a day or two before flying back to Atlanta. Heyward won’t be going with the team when it leaves after Wednesday’s game for Detroit.
Dodgers RHP Billingsley to have Tommy John surgery
NEW YORK — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley will have Tommy John surgery this week and miss the rest of the season.
The Dodgers made the announcement Tuesday, a day before the right-hander was set for the elbow operation in Los Angeles. The team said it typically takes about 12 months to return to competition.
Billingsley was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this season. He was scheduled to start last Sunday in Baltimore, but instead was put on the 15-day disabled list because of pain in his elbow.
The 28-year-old injured his elbow last August and decided to try rehabilitation instead of major surgery. He had been pain-free until feeling pain last Friday in a bullpen session. An MRI showed the injury.
Billingsley is 81-61 with a 3.65 ERA in eight big league seasons.
Gutierrez put on DL with hamstring injury
HOUSTON — The Seattle Mariners have placed outfielder Franklin Gutierrez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.
Gutierrez was injured on Monday night trying to make a diving catch in the fourth inning against the Astros. He has struggled with injuries in his career, and this is the fifth time he’s been on the disabled list since the beginning of the 2011 season.
Gutierrez is hitting .259 with four homers and 10 RBIs in 16 games this season.
Outfielder Carlos Peguero was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take his spot on the roster. Peguero has hit .246 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 17 games for Tacoma this season.
Mets promote OF Lagares, send down OF Nieuwenhuis
NEW YORK — The New York Mets have promoted outfielder Juan Lagares from Triple-A Las Vegas and sent down outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis to their top minor league team.
The 24-year-old Lagares has never played in the majors. He took a redeye flight and was at Citi Field for Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manager Terry Collins said Lagares wouldn’t start right away against former NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, but would be in the lineup Wednesday night. Lagares has played all three outfield spots and Collins said he was an excellent fielder.
Lagares was hitting .346 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 17 games at Las Vegas.
Nieuwenhuis was hitting .125 with one RBI in 13 games.
Dotel on DL, Rondon up from minors for Tigers
DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have put reliever Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, paving the way for Bruce Rondon to be called up from Triple-A Toledo.
Rondon was recalled Tuesday. He was in contention to be Detroit’s closer during spring training but didn’t make the team.
Dotel goes on the DL retroactive to Saturday.
Rondon has never pitched in the majors, but the right-hander was considered a possibility to replace Jose Valverde as Detroit’s closer. But Rondon didn’t make the major league team after a spring training audition, and Valverde is attempting a return of his own in the minors.
Dotel has allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 shaky innings for the Tigers this season.