Kalish will be used sparingly down the stretch

TORONTO -- Manager Bobby Valentine said outfielder Ryan Kalish is still bothered by two operations he had last year. The 24-year-old underwent season-ending surgery on his neck in 2011, and he then had left shoulder surgery in the offseason that forced him to miss the start of the Minor League season.

Kalish, who has not appeared in a game since Wednesday, is still limited physically and will be used sparingly down the stretch.

"He's not ready to go," Valentine said.

Valentine said that Kalish could enter games as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, but all indications are that the skipper will closely monitor Kalish and allow him to get fully healthy during the offseason.

Kalish is batting .229 with a .532 OPS over 34 games this year after batting .265 with five homers in 33 Minor League games.