Dee Gordon took over as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop when Rafael Furcal was traded to the Cardinals, but now the 23-year-old rookie will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a bruised right shoulder.
Don Mattingly described the decision to place Gordon on the disabled list as “precautionary” and an MRI exam revealed no structural damage, so it sounds like the Dodgers are hoping to have him back in the lineup by the end of the month.
In the meantime Jamey Carroll will slide over to shortstop, with Aaron Miles seeing more action at second base.
Gordon has struggled offensively, hitting just .234 with a .518 OPS in 30 games, but he’s shown good range defensively and swiped 12 bases while being caught just three times. Because of his slight frame and grand total of just seven homers in 394 games as a minor leaguer Gordon doesn’t project as an impact hitter, but with the development of any sort of decent on-base skills he has 50-steal potential.