SAN DIEGO -- The Padres placed utility infielder Alexi Amarista on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a right hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to April 20. In a corresponding transaction, the club recalled right-hander Cesar Vargas from Double-A San Antonio.
Vargas started Saturday's game against the Cardinals at Petco Park.
Amarista began the season in Triple-A El Paso and was recalled on April 10 when third baseman Yangervis Solarte went on the DL with a hamstring strain as well. In eight games for the Padres this season, Amarista has batted .333 with two RBIs and a pair of stolen bases.
"It's a hamstring strain," Padres manager Andy Green said. "We gave him an MRI. We were hoping we could avoid it, and we were unable to avoid it, so we kind of had to go ahead and make that move today."
With second baseman Cory Spangenberg also sidelined, the Padres have three infielders out with injuries. The club called up Jemile Weeks from El Paso on April 20 to help fill the void. Jose Pirela could also be used at second base, and has been working out at the position despite mostly playing in the outfield in Spring Training.
"It's a lot of guys on the DL for us, but we have to have that next man up philosophy, where the next guy does the job," Green said. "We've seen that out of Jemile Weeks and Adam Rosales and everybody else that has been out there."
Green did not expect the severity of Amarista's injury to keep him off the field for an extended period of time.
"It's not the kind of thing that we think is going to wash a whole month away," Green said. "He is probably at least a week or two away from being able to run, and he's got to be able to run to play at this level.'
Solarte and Spangenberg have been progressing slowly from their respective injuries, according to Green.
"Solarte is still not running," Green said. "He is doing better, he is progressing, but it is not coming along as quickly as we had hoped. Spangenberg hasn't started running either. All of those guys need to start running before you can ascertain how far along they are."