The New York Yankees placed infielder Jon Berti on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left calf strain after the team feared the injury could be much worse.
Berti sustained the injury while leaving the batter’s box on a ninth-inning groundout on Friday night during an 8-0 victory over the host San Diego Padres. He collapsed to the ground in pain while attempting to run to first base and grabbed at his calf in what could have been an Achilles injury.
Berti, 34, has played in 17 games this season, batting .273 with one home run and six RBIs in 55 at-bats. Since returning from the injured list due to a left groin strain, he is batting .306 (11-for-36) in 11 games in May with a .359 on-base percentage, .389 slugging percentage and .748 OPS.
“He’s a really good complement to our team,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said late Friday night. “The speed he brings, the defense he brings. We haven’t seen the defensive versatility that he has, just because third base has been the spot. He gives you the quality at-bat at the bottom of the order. He’s a good player.
“Hopefully, this is something that doesn’t knock him down too long because he does become a very important part of our bench moving forward.”
In a corresponding move, the Yankees selected the contract of infielder Kevin Smith from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Smith, 27, appeared in one game for New York this season. He is hitting .204 in 29 games at Triple-A.
To make room on the roster, New York moved second baseman DJ LeMahieu (right foot contusion) to the 60-day IL. LeMahieu is expected to return to the team on Tuesday when New York plays the Los Angeles Angels.