Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez out 2 months with torn thumb ligament

Hanley Ramirez

Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his thumb and is expected to miss two months after having surgery, the team announced Thursday.

Ramirez suffered the injury diving for a ground ball while playing third base for the Dominican Republic in the championship game of the World Baseball Class on Tuesday.

With Ramirez out, the Dodgers could move Luis Cruz over from third base, with Jerry Hairston Jr., Juan Uribe and former Red Sox Nick Punto vying for time at third. Or they could insert Dee Gordon or Justin Sellers at short.

Ramirez, 29, is coming off a season in which he hit .257/.322/.437/.759 with 24 home runs and 92 RBIs. He was traded from the Marlins to the Dodgers on July 25.

Ramirez is a three-time All-Star whose numbers dropped off the last two years. He was the 2006 Rookie of the Year after being traded from the Red Sox the previous offseason.

Leave a Reply