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Angels place Cowgill on DL with wrist injury

ANAHEIM -- What had seemed like a minor injury as recently as Monday has now landed Collin Cowgill on the disabled list. The Angels' outfielder was placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained right wrist, retroactive to May 26, before Thursday's series opener against the Tigers at Angel Stadium.

"It's obviously significant enough to put him on the disabled list and know that it's going to take at least a couple weeks," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think the important thing is to calm it down. It's been evaluated, and I think the medical staff and doctors have an idea of how to treat it. But it's going to take a little bit of time. I know he's not going to do much this week, as far as picking up a bat. Hopefully, this thing will get healthy enough where he can start the progression."

The decision to put Cowgill on the DL was part of a series of roster moves the Angels made Thursday -- they also designated outfielder Marc Krauss for assignment, activated newly-acquired outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis and selected outfielder Alfredo Marte to the Major League roster from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Cowgill hurt his wrist during batting practice on Sunday in Boston and has not been able to bat in a game since.

"He felt, like, a twinge," Scioscia said. "It was his top hand, which was really odd. Usually guys feel it down in his bottom hand. He took a couple of swings and it went away, came back, took a couple swings and it felt good until he took one swing and felt like his hand was on fire, and just didn't feel like he was going to be able to play Sunday."

But Cowgill was day to day at that point, and after undergoing an MRI on Monday he had said he was relieved that the injury wasn't more serious, and that he was going to take an anti-inflammatory shot and possibly take batting practice the next day.

But it appears the injury wasn't getting better, even though Cowgill said he swung a bat "a little bit" on Wednesday, as he wasn't able to stay off the DL.

Cowgill took another shot on Thursday and was told to stay away from swinging for at least a couple of days.

"Hopefully, it's not too lengthy," Cowgill said. "Good news, all the way around, in my opinion."

Worth noting:

• Marte will get opportunities to start against lefties and is most comfortable playing right field. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter batted .174 in 66 games with the D-backs from 2013-14, but posted a .343/.401/.540 slash line in 37 Triple-A games. Marte said he "made some mechanical adjustments and worked on letting the ball travel, seeing more pitches, staying back and not being so aggressive."

Albert Pujols was starting at designated hitter on Thursday to get a day off his feet, which meant utility man Grant Green got the start at first base. With C.J. Cron optioned to Triple-A and Krauss designated for assignment, Green is essentially the backup at first (although right fielder Kole Calhoun can also play the position).

"He's an infielder and he's got range," Scioscia said Wednesday of Green playing first base. "He's been pretty comfortable at first base. He spent a lot of time there in the spring, and also down in Triple-A. He feels comfortable at first."

• The Angels hosted the second of three local assemblies at Cambridge Elementary School on Thursday as part of the Angels Baseball Foundation's "Adopt-a-School" program, with pitcher Hector Santiago visiting the school.

David Adler is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @_dadler
Read More: Los Angeles Angels, Collin Cowgill