Nationals shortstop Trea Turner will be out indefinitely after breaking his right index finger while trying to bunt.
Standing at the plate in the first inning Tuesday night against Philadelphia, Turner squared to bunt versus Zach Elfin. The fastball hit the finger on his right hand, which was wrapped around the bat.
The Nationals placed Turner on the 10-day injured list Wednesday and called up Adrian Sanchez from Triple-A Fresno.
The injury was determined to be a nondisplaced fracture. There was no timetable for his return.
“I guess as time goes on, the better we’ll know,” Turner said.
“It’s a big loss. He’s our starting shortstop,” manager Dave Martinez said. “But we’ve got to keep playing.”
Wilmer Difo replaced Turner and will assume the role of starter for the time being.
“He’s here for a reason,” Martinez said of Difo, who went 1 for 3 after entering in the first inning.
With Washington’s new top minor league affiliate based on the other side of the country, Sanchez left Tuesday evening, flew from California to Chicago, caught a connection, and landed in Washington on Wednesday morning.
Turner was batting .385 and coming off a game against the Mets in which he hit two home runs, including a game-ending solo shot.
“Not fun,” Turner said. “I couldn’t move it, so I knew something was wrong.”
Turner said the pitch was coming high and inside, and he had no chance to get out of the way.
“I don’t expect somebody to throw at my head,” Turner said.
Martinez said: “The ball was in. He just couldn’t get out of the way. He just kept running in on him.”
The Nationals plan to active utility player Howie Kendrick off the IL on Thursday, when Washington opens a three-game series at the New York Mets.
Matt Adams, who left Tuesday’s loss with back spasms, could be available to pinch hit Wednesday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.