San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria reportedly will miss four to six weeks with a left shoulder sprain, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Longoria, 35, suffered the injury while colliding with Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford while both were trying to field a ninth-inning ground ball by the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo in San Francisco’s 4-3 win over Chicago on Saturday.
Crawford stayed in the game, but Longoria was replaced by Donovan Solano. After putting Longoria on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, the Giants recalled infielder Thairo Estrada from Triple-A Sacramento and started Wilmer Flores at third base against the Cubs.
“It’s going to be a major challenge to fill (Longoria’s) shoes,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “I’m not sure we’re going to have anybody be able to step right in and do what he was doing. At the same time, we have to turn the page and get ready to compete and that’s what we’re going to do.”
In 50 games this season, Longoria is batting .280 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs. The 2008 AL Rookie of the Year with the Tampa Bay Rays is a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner.
Longoria is a .267 career hitter with 313 home runs and 1,073 RBIs in 1,792 career games with the Rays (2008-17) and the Giants.
