Soler likely out 2-3 weeks with ankle injury
Cubs place right fielder on DL, recall Baxter; Lake expected to get most of playing time for now
MIAMI -- After a day of speculation, the Cubs on Wednesday placed right fielder Jorge Soler on the 15-day disabled list due to a left ankle injury that occurred in Monday night's win.
The 23-year-old, who injured the ankle stepping awkwardly on first base, saw doctors on Tuesday while sitting out the Cubs' loss. He then flew back to Chicago on Wednesday before he was moved to the DL.
"I never like to speculate, it's just that I'm hearing two to three weeks -- like a minimal kind of stay," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That's what I got as of right now."
Soler is batting .265 (50-for-189) with 12 doubles, four home runs and 19 RBIs in 49 games. He leads all National League rookies with 50 hits.
With Soler going on the DL, infielder/outfielder Mike Baxter was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. The 30-year-old Baxter, who is 1-for-9 in 10 games with Chicago this season, was optioned to Iowa on Tuesday for outfielder Matt Szczur.
Junior Lake will take Soler's place in right field and the cleanup spot for the time being. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI on Tuesday night and is hitting .257 in 37 at-bats this season.
Wednesday's contest marked Lake's third start in right field. The 25-year-old also started in left field four times, while entering as a pinch-hitter in his six other appearances.
"You'll see him a lot," Maddon said of Lake. "I think Baxter was starting to swing the bat better also the last couple games out. But I think Junior has earned the right to play a little bit and has done well."