NewsRamirez to play three games for Peoria
Third baseman could return in time for series with Braves
By Wayne Staats / MLB.com
07/01/09 8:01 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- Aramis Ramirez will be a chief for the weekend -- a Peoria Chief, that is.The third baseman, who hasn't played since dislocating his left shoulder on May 8, will play three games for Class A Peoria starting Friday. If all goes well, the plan is to bring him back for the start of the series with the Braves on Monday.
"He'll get himself a dozen at-bats or so," manager Lou Piniella said. "He seems to think that the extra day of batting practice will be better for him than the actual three or four at-bats he'll get over the course of a game."
The Chiefs play in Kane County (Ill.) on Friday before heading home to play Beloit through Tuesday.
Before his injury, Ramirez was hitting .364 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 18 games. In his last two full appearances, he went 5-for-8 with a home run and two RBIs. Last season he led Chicago with 111 RBIs.
Despite the potent bat Ramirez brings to the lineup, his teammates made it clear that they won't put pressure on him to return.
"I don't expect him to be in midseason form, but he's a type of hitter that changes your lineup when he gets in it," Ryan Theriot said. "We definitely welcome him back and are excited to have him. We need him. He's a big piece of the puzzle."
Ramirez has been taking batting practice with the team in Pittsburgh. He said earlier this week that he was experiencing normal soreness because he hasn't swung a bat in about two months.
Piniella talked with Ramirez during Tuesday's game about people's expectations for when he returns.
"I said, 'Look, you don't need to come over here and carry or be a savior or anything else. You just be yourself,' " Piniella said. "I think his presence in the lineup will make people around him better. 'Don't expect to come over here and have to drive in five runs a game for us. Just be yourself and I think that's going to give us a big left in itself.' "
Wayne Staats is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
