Arizona Diamondbacks Lose Infielder Tony Abreu, Promote Ryan Roberts

During the finale with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Arizona Diamondbacks started Tony Abreu at second base, giving Kelly Johnson a much deserved day off. Toronto catcher Jose Molina came barreling into second as Abreu attempted a tag.

That's when it happened.

Abreu’s left wrist bent backwards from the force of the large catcher’s slide. Abreu leaped back and flung his glove off, obviously in a tremendous amount of pain. Diamondbacks trainers came out to look at the injury.

Abreu left the game immediately with what was described as a sprained left wrist. Initial X-rays showed no fracture, but because of swelling, they could not tell much more.

Clearly, Abreu would be going on the disabled list.

The question is, for how long?

The Diamondbacks placed Abreu on the DL and called up infielder Ryan Roberts. Roberts was last seen at Chase Field during the final spring training game before being sent to Triple-A Reno as the final cut to the Opening Day roster.

Roberts will get playing opportunities at shortstop and second base. He will also come off the bench as a pinch hitter, much like his role last season.

Roberts has been working hard in Reno honing his skills, especially in situational hitting with runners in scoring position, where he hit just .197 last season.

The Diamondbacks do not know how long Roberts will be in the big leagues. That will depend upon the news they receive after Abreu meets with well-known hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan on Friday.

By that time, the team is hoping the swelling has subsided enough to get an assessment of whether Abreu suffered ligament damage, or if this truly is just a wrist sprain.

In other injury-related news, left-handed reliever Clay Zavada has undergone elbow surgery on his pitching arm. Zavada struggled through much of spring training.

In Reno, he underwent Tommy John surgery, which has a recovery time of approximately a year, meaning he will not realistically pitch again until mid-2011.

Zavada was a great story last season, coming from seemingly nowhere to capture the hearts of Diamondbacks fans with his down-home personality and great mustache.

Zavada had an elbow-ligament replacement procedure, and will spend the remainder of the year rehabilitating his arm in hopes of returning to the Diamondbacks bullpen before the All-Star break next year.