Cubs place LF Soriano on DL

Jun 12, 2008 - 10:12 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs officially placed left fielder Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day disabled list Thursday one day after he suffered a fractured finger on his left hand.

Soriano left Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves after being hit by a pitch in the second inning and was taken to Northwestern Hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fracture on his ring finger.

He will have the finger placed in a splint for the next three weeks and is expected to miss four to six weeks overall.

It is the second trip to the DL this season for Soriano, who missed 14 games from April 16-30 with a right calf strain. The Cubs went 9-5 during Soriano's first stint on the DL.

"We're optimistic that six weeks will be the max," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said before the Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves with a 3-2, 11-inning victory. "He's already predicted that it won't be that long, and he's a fast healer."

The 32-year-old Soriano is batting .283 this season and leads the team with 15 home runs and 40 RBI.

"I have to take it easy and try to come back very soon," Soriano told the Cubs' web site. "I want to be 100 percent, just do what the trainer wants me to do and come back quick."

Chicago also recalled infielders Micah Hoffpauir and Eric Patterson from Class AAA Iowa on Thursday and optioned righthander Kevin Hart to Iowa.

"It's a big blow for us," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We've got a farm system, and that's what it's for. We brought up some kids. We've got a little more lefthanded hitting here, and hopefully they can swing some bats and help us."

Hoffpauir, 28, was recalled by the Cubs earlier in the season and batted .421 (8-for-19) with three doubles and one RBI in 11 games.