SAN FRANCISCO — An injury suffered by a Padres minor leaguer has been revealed to be more serious than originally thought.
The news is especially significant because that player, catcher Austin Hedges, may well be the big-league club's future behind the plate.
Hedges, who is with Triple-A El Paso, suffered a hamate bone fracture in his left hand and will undergo surgery, Padres manager Andy Green announced Tuesday. His estimated recovery time is six to eight weeks.
El Paso placed Hedges on the seven-day disabled list over the weekend with what was originally diagnosed as a hand contusion, sustained while the catcher was swinging a bat.