Jackson
PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks placed slumping outfielder Conor Jackson on the 15-day disabled list with a “general illness.”
Jackson has had a prolonged fever and cough, and the club plans to put him through a battery of tests, manager A.J. Hinch said before the Diamondbacks played Cincinnati on Tuesday.
“We’re going to call it a general illness until we know exactly what it is,” Hinch said. “But it’s been a significant amount of time. That’s why we’re concerned.”
In a corresponding move, Arizona reinstated shortstop Stephen Drew from the disabled list. Drew walked as a pinch-hitter Tuesday night, as Arizona dropped to 12-20 with a 3-1 loss to visiting Cincinnati.
Jackson started in left field on opening day. He is hitting .182 – 105 points below his career average – and has only one hit in his last 19 at-bats.
The Diamondbacks decided to put Jackson on the DL because they didn’t want to play short-handed while they waited for him to return to full strength.
“He just never has been able to shake this cough, this fever, aches and things like that,” Hinch said. “We’re baffled a little bit by this because it’s been a long time and he’s just never really gotten better.
“He’s showing signs of coming out of it, and then kind of relapses,” Hinch said. “So we’re going to do a full battery of tests to rule out just about everything to get him back healthy again and back on his feet. This game’s hard enough when you’re completely on your feet. When you’re battling this – the temperature, the coughs, the aches – it’s near impossible.”
The move leaves the Diamondbacks with only three outfielders – Eric Byrnes, Chris Young and Justin Upton – although that may change in the next few days.
Hinch said he would use utility infielder Ryan Roberts in the outfield if he needs to. Roberts has played one game in the outfield – on May 16, 2007, for Toronto against Baltimore.
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UP NEXT
Cincinnati (Cueto 3-1) at Arizona (Augenstein 0-0), 6:40 p.m. Wednesday. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1490 AM