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The Padres announced today that Cory Spangenberg is being placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Sunday, June 28th) with a left knee contusion. The news shouldn't come as much of a surprise after Spangenberg left the game after the 4th inning on Saturday night with an initial diagnosis of a sprained left knee.
According to Pat Murphy, the injury was first aggravated in the 1st inning of that game when Arizona's Nick Ahmed tried to break up a double play by sliding into Spangenberg, who came up slow after the play. But the second baseman stayed in the game until the 4th, when he further aggravated the injury. Spangenberg doubled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch, but couldn't make himself stay in the game any longer and was replaced with a pinch-runner, Clint Barmes.
Spangenberg exits with leg injury | Corey Brock, padres.com
"He looked me right in the eye and said 'No, I can do it, I can do it,'" Murphy said. "The competitor in him wanted to stay in the game thinking it would calm down. But when I saw him run to third, I said that's it."
Spangenberg got an MRI after that game, and the results were positive. Murphy announced that the team would wait 24 hours before making a decision about the injury and whether or not Spangenberg would have to be put on the DL and/or someone would be called up from the minors.
Spangenberg day-to-day with bone contusion | Beth Maiman, padres.com
"No torn ligaments or anything like that, just a bone contusion," Spangenberg said. "So that was good news. We're just going to go day to day and see how it feels for right now."
Spangenberg said the protocol for treatment is icing and resting.
To make matters worse, Will Middlebrooks had to exit the game in the 7th inning on Sunday after stepping on a bat and rolling his ankle. He was able to walk off the field on his own after the injury, and later Murphy seemed optimistic about it, announcing that the team would use Monday's off-day to reevaluate. Sure enough, Middlebrooks is available to play tonight, though he isn't in the starting lineup.
Pat Murphy says Will Middlebrooks is still sore after tripping on bat Sunday but will tape it up and be able to go
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) June 30, 2015
Gyorko starts at second base. Solarte starts at third base. https://t.co/wBOktUMqzn
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) June 30, 2015
Also from Pat Murphy; 3B Will MIddlebrooks is available to pinch-hit. Mobility still isn't where the team would like. #Padres
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) July 1, 2015
Hopefully that works itself out and Middlebrooks can stay off the DL.
Either way, the Padres have brought in reinforcements for the infield. Jedd Gyorko, who was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on June 10th, was officially recalled on Tuesday morning. Ever since Spangenberg first exited that Saturday night game, media and fans alike have been expecting, if not clamoring for, Gyorko's return to the big leagues. So, again, the announcement should come as no surprise, especially after reports surfaced last night of Gyorko exiting the Chihuahuas game in Tacoma after only one inning.
Looks like the Padres will make a DL move tomorrow. Jedd Gyorko, who started tonight in Tacoma, played just one inning. Headed to San Diego.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) June 30, 2015
The Padres lose a lefty bat in Spangenberg, but hopefully Gyorko will be able to take advantage and make the best of this opportunity. Prior to his demotion earlier this month, he was hitting .210 with two home runs and a .593 OPS in 46 games this season. In his 16 games with El Paso, he hit .294 with four homers and an .854 OPS.