July 11, 2005

Spivey headed to disabled list

PHILADELPHIA — The Washington Nationals placed former Cowley College second baseman Junior Spivey on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with a fractured right radius.

Spivey injured himself while hitting off a tee before the Nationals played the Phillies. He hit a ball, which ricocheted off a pole and hit him on the right wrist. At first, Spivey didn't feel any pain, but when he took additional batting practice with bullpen catcher Nilson Robledo a few minutes later, Spivey heard a pop.

An X-ray revealed the fracture, and Spivey was scheduled to have surgery on the radius Monday morning at Washington Hospital Center. Spivey is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.

This is the third year in a row Spivey has spent time on the injured list. He suffered hamstring and shoulder problems last year with the Milwaukee Brewers, and ankle problems as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003.

Spivey was batting .232 with seven home runs, 24 runs batted in, and a team-best nine stolen bases. Washington is 52-36 and 2 1/2 games in front of the Atlanta Braves (50-39) in the National League East Division heading into the All-Star break.