Early indications are that shortstop Jhonny Peralta may have suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb Saturday and could be lost for two to three months, GM John Mozeliak said Monday (via KMOX).
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According to MLB.com, Mozeliak said Peralta underwent an MRI exam in Florida and “the initial read is not positive.”
Peralta, 33, was seen leaving the Cardinals’ training complex in Jupiter, Fla., headed back to St. Louis for a second opinion.
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Typically in the No. 3, 4 or 5 spot in the lineup in 2015, Peralta batted .275/.334/.411 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs in 155 games for the NL Central champions.
The Cardinals — seeking to remain competitive with the Cubs and Pirates — acquired Jedd Gyorko from the Padres to serve primarily as their main backup infielder. He’ll likely be pressed into a more prominent role than expected.
