Third baseman Chase Headley will miss most, if not all of April with a broken thumb.
Headley originally injured his thumb trying to break up a double play on Sunday during a split-squad game against the Angels. The initial diagnosis by team doctors was a jammed thumb and Headley played the bottom of the inning after he got injured.
He got x-rays in Arizona on Sunday, and then flew back to San Diego Monday to see a hand specialist.
“Injuries occur. You hate to see it happen, but it's the nature of a physical sport like baseball," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It's unfortunate for Chase and the entire Padres organization."
Last week Headley was on the verge of being called up to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. In 2012 he hit .286 with 31 homers and 115 RBIs along with a Gold Glove and finished fifth in NL MVP voting.
The Padres open the regular season April 1 in Citi Field against the Mets.
Headley’s fractured thumb should not require surgery but will take about a month to heal.
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The Padres’ options include Logan Forsythe, originally slated to play second base and Jedd Gyorko, who played a lot of third base in the Minors.
Forsythe, however, has not played since March 7 with planter fasciitis in his right foot but says he hopes to return this week.
Gyorko has played only second base during spring training and is the shoe-in to start there Opening Day.
Without Headley in the Opening Day line-up, the previously sunny Padres forecast could bring many more April showers.
