Coaching from third base doesn’t seem to be keeping Arizona Diamondbacks’ Matt Williams any healthier than during the days he protected the base as a player.

The third base coach sustained a broken right foot after being hit with a ball at batting practice on Monday and could miss two-to-three weeks, putting his coaching abilities on Opening Day in jeopardy.

“He’s in a walking cast, so he’s not going to be able to coach third base right now,” said D-backs manager Kirk Gibson.

The ball was actually hit by his son, Jacob Williams, who is in college and seems to have been getting a little work in with his dad during a drill at Salt River Fields.

“Yeah [Jacob] hit a rocket,” Gibson said. “It was all funny at first, but not really.”

Williams suffered similar injuries in 1995 with the San Francisco Giants and 2000 with the D-backs, both to the same bone (the second metatarsal) in the same foot.

After having pins surgically inserted the first time, he was required to have a metal plate placed in his right foot, which caused him to miss the first 43 games of the 2000 season.

“[The ball] hit him right where he’s got that plate in his foot and the break’s right underneath the plate,” Gibson said.

According to GM Kevin Towers, should Williams not be ready for Opening Day, bench coach Alan Trammel or bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock could be moved to his spot at third base, which would allow Williams to remain on the bench. Another option would be to move Reno manager Brett Butler up to the big league club while Williams can’t take the field.

Sports 620 KTAR’s Craig Grialou contributed to this report

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