The Marlins haven't announced it yet, but expect reliever Edward Mujica to go on the disabled list soon.
The veteran right-handed reliever has a fractured right pinky toe and said he expects to be out at until after the All-Star Break. Mujica, who is wearing a protective boot on his foot, was injured Friday when he was struck by a line drive off the bat of the Phillies' Placido Polanco in the seventh inning.
"That one was very quick. I didn't even have a chance to move my feet or get out of the way," Mujica said of the liner that plunked him. "That was like bang-bang, boom-boom."
Mujica said he remained in the game and finished the seventh inning after being hit because his foot felt numb. But as soon as he got back into the Marlins dugout the pain ensued. "One out of 10, I'd say it was a nine," Mujica said of the pain.
Manager Ozzie Guillen said he has yet to discuss the situation with President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest or general manager Mike Hill, but said he and his staff are recommending Mujica goes on the disabled list. Mujica (0-3, 4.46 ERA) has never been on the disabled list.
"There was a long conversation about what we were going to do because he can feel better in four days [and go back out there]," Guillen said. "But, realistically, when you got a broken bone you don't know. If we wait four days, send him back to the mound and he can't pitch, then he's going to lose four days, six days from going on the DL.... I think the best thing we can do is just put him on the DL."
> With Justin Ruggiano playing well, Guillen was asked if there will still be a spot for him in the Marlins lineup once Emilio Bonifacio returns from the DL.
"Oh yeah. I've never seen any manager bench anyone when they're playing good," Guillen. "... Ruggiano, the way he's playing right now, I will find him playing time [for him] -- believe me. How we're going to do it? That's easy.They do it for me. He's definitely going to have playing time. I'm not going to say he's going to platoon. It's not that way. But I will find him at-bats, some at-bats."
Ruggiano entered Saturday's game with the third highest batting average (.396) in June in the majors, behind Joey Votto (.40) and Joe Mauer (.400). His .729 slugging percentage is fourth. Ruggiano, a .258 career hitter in 121 major league games, said he's just taking advantage of his playing time. Saturday will be his 12th start for the Marlins.
"I'm not trying to do too much. I'm getting more comfortable. More playing time helps," Ruggiano said. "This is definitely the most I've been able to play over one stretch during a month. I've never had this kind of opportunity. I've had it maybe a week at a time or a week and a half at a time in Tampa, but it was never more than that. That lineup fluctuated so much it was tough to get in there sometimes."
> JENNINGS HONORED: Dan Jennings, who has spent most of his working life scouring ballparks large and small in search of baseball talent, on Friday was inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame in Fort Myers.
Jennings, the Marlins' assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel, was enshrined in ceremonies at Hammond Stadium. "It is a great honor to be recognized and go into the Hall of Fame of scouting," Jennings said.
Jennings, who began his scouting career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1986, signed and developed more than 45 players -- including Josh Hamilton, Carl Crawford and James Shields -- when he served as Director of Scouting for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for seven seasons. Jennings is in his 10th season with the Marlins.
Three other scouts are being inducted in the scouting Hall of Fame in ceremonies this summer. They are Bill Lajoie (Detroit Tigers), Chris Pitarro (Oakland A's) and Al Avila (Tigers).
SATURDAY'S LINEUPS
> Phillies (36-43): 1. Jimmy Rollins SS, 2. Placido Polanco 3B, 3. Chase Utley 2B, 4. Carlos Ruiz C, 5. Hunter Pence RF, 6. Shane Victorino CF, 7. Ty Wiggington 1B, 8. John Mayberry LF, 9. Cole Hamels LHP.
> Marlins (36-40): 1. Jose Reyes SS, 2. Hanley Ramirez 3B, 3. Giancarlo Stanton RF, 4. Logan Morrison LF, 5. Justin Ruggiano CF, 6. Omar Infante 2B, 7. Gaby Sanchez 1B, 8. John Buck C, 9. Mark Buehrle LHP.
