The Official Site of Hanley Ramirez

Wed, Aug 10th 2011, 23:09

Marlins Place Hanley on the DL

MIAMI — After losing to the Braves, 6-2, on Wednesday night, the Marlins announced they also will be without Hanley Ramirez for a while.

Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 3, with a sprained left shoulder. The earliest the 27-year-old shortstop can be reinstated is Aug. 18, when the team is at San Diego.

“Hopefully Hanley will be back on Aug. 18,” manager Jack McKeon said.

Ramirez has now been on the DL twice this year, with the first coming on June 6 with a left back strain.

The Marlins made a couple of roster moves following Wednesday’s game.

Brad Hand was optioned to Double-A Jacksonville, and Chris Volstad was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. Volstad will fill Hand’s rotation spot on Sunday against the Giants.

Volstad was 5-8 with a 5.58 ERA before he was optioned July 23.

Additionally, reliever Jose Ceda was recalled from Triple-A.

With Ramirez on the DL, Emilio Bonifacio is expected to get a majority of the playing time at shortstop.

“The extension, it’s still not there,” said Ramirez, who hurt his shoulder against the Mets at Citi Field on Aug. 2.

When he’s tested his swing recently, the shortstop felt discomfort. A couple of days ago, he was hoping to be back on Wednesday. But the shoulder still isn’t right.

“I talked to him today. He’s still a little sore,” manager Jack McKeon said before Wednesday’s game.

Ramirez’s injury occurred when he landed awkwardly while making a diving attempt on Angel Pagan’s single to short left field.

The shortstop was taken out of the game, and he’s missed all seven games of the Marlins’ current homestand.

Although Ramirez is having a down season, batting .243 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs, he remains a threat in the lineup. The Marlins are 5-22 in games in which their three-time All-Star isn’t playing.

“We need him,” McKeon said. “The difference in our ballclub, whether he’s hitting like he used to or not, he’s still a guy that they fear and a guy who can break loose at any time.”

McKeon says it isn’t a coincidence that the Marlins struggle without Ramirez.

“He makes a big difference in our lineup, whether he’s hitting or not,” the manager said. “How they pitch to him, how they pitch to the guys in front of him and the guys behind him. His presence in the lineup is important.”

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