Brewers place Gomez on DL, recall Rogers
PITTSBURGH -- The Brewers placed center fielder Carlos Gomez on the disabled list Friday with a strained right hamstring and called up utility man Jason Rogers from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take his roster spot.
Gomez's 15-day disabled list stint is retroactive to Thursday. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said the club's training staff expects Gomez to be sidelined two or three weeks.
"They talked to him this morning, and he'll be getting therapy," Roenicke said. "Hopefully it'll be right on that [day Gomez is eligible to come off the DL], and we don't have to wait too much longer after that."
Since speed is such a critical part of Gomez's game, Roenicke acknowledged that the Brewers have to be careful to not rush him back into action.
"Gomey has to have his legs under him. He's patrolling a big area out there in center field. He's a basestealer, he hits doubles, triples," Roenicke said. "So if we have to give him a few more days to make sure, that's probably what we'll try to do."
Rogers, 27, was one of Milwaukee's final cuts following a strong Spring Training effort. Primarily a corner infielder, Rogers hit .351/.419/.378 with five RBIs in 22 games this spring.
Video: Top Prospects: Jason Rogers, 3B/1B, Brewers
Rogers received word from Triple-A Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet late Thursday night -- well, technically early Friday morning -- that he was headed to PNC Park to join the Brewers.
"Just do whatever they want me to do. Probably pinch-hit, if they want me to start a few games, third, first, whatever it takes. Whatever to get us back on track, get us to start winning again."
The decision essentially boiled down to Rogers or switch-hitting utility man Elian Herrera, and Rogers got the nod because he was already on the club's 40-man roster where Herrera was not.
Roenicke also likes what Rogers offers as a potential bat off the bench, particularly after learning how to handle a pinch-hitting role last September. Rogers went 1-for-9 with a double and a walk in eight games.
"That helped me out a lot," Rogers said. "I wasn't used to it. Pinch-hitting's tough. It's tough. Unless you've been doing it your whole career, it's tough. ... I'm prepared mentally. I'm better prepared."
Rogers was the club's Minor League Player of the Year in 2013. He started off hot for Colorado Springs this year, going 9-for-25 with two home runs and seven RBIs in six games.
A career .288/.368/.459 hitter over six Minor League seasons, Rogers has spent 248 games at first base, 127 at third and 66 in left field.