Arizona Diamondbacks OF David Peralta: I’m not ready to go 100 percent
May 15, 2016, 12:10 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta reacts after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, April 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
PHOENIX, Ariz. – It had been nearly a week.
Six days, to be exact.
The Arizona Diamondbacks could not wait any longer, so on Sunday, the team placed right fielder David Peralta on the 15-day disabled list due to right wrist inflammation, a move that had been considered for the past couple of days.
“This was just the time,” manager Chip Hale said prior to the series finale against the San Francisco Giants. “We’ve had three games here against the Giants where that extra position player would’ve helped. David was just not improving enough.”
Hale added Peralta’s DL stint is retroactive to May 8, the last time Peralta appeared in a game.
Soreness in the right wrist had kept Peralta out of the lineup since then, meaning he missed all three games in Colorado and the first three games against the Giants.
The soreness had subsided some with the time off, but still not enough for Peralta to start swinging a bat again.
“It’s feeling better but it’s not ready to go 100 percent,” he said, “and I want to be back 100 percent to help the team and do well.”
Taking Peralta’s roster spot is outfielder Michael Bourn, whom the D-backs signed to a Minor League contract on May 10 and assigned him to Double-A Mobile, where he hit .318 (7-for-22) with a double and RBI in five games.
Bourn, 33, is a two-time All-Star and twice a Gold Glove winner in center field.
“I think a lot of people are wondering why it wasn’t Peter O’Brien (called up) because Peter has been doing a nice job in Triple-A,” Hale said. “This was just a matter of Peter does not play center field. We know that. Is he still on our radar? Of course he is. If there’s other moves to be made and we add another hitter he’d be definitely in the mix along with some other guys that are having nice years in Reno and Mobile.”
Peralta, who is batting .260 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 33 games this season, said he’s unsure if his injury is related to being hit twice in the forearm last month in the series at San Francisco.
An MRI on Thursday revealed no structural damage, so for now, treatment and rest are part of Peralta’s rehab process.
“That’s the point to be on the DL to give it more time and with more time it’s going to get much better, so we don’t have to rush anything,” he said.
Peralta would be eligible to return off the disabled list May 23, an off day for the D-backs before they begin a three-game series at Pittsburgh.
“We’re not going to bring him back until he feels like he’s close to 100 percent,” Hale said. “At this point, (the disabled list) is just the best thing to do for him. We’re hoping that it’s only eight more days but you just never know in this game.”
