Thumb injury lands Peralta back on disabled list

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals third baseman Jhonny Peralta is going back on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained ligament in his surgically repaired left thumb.

The 34-year-old Peralta is batting .221 with five homers and 13 RBIs. He missed the first 57 games of the season before returning June 7.

St. Louis made the move Tuesday.

Peralta hasn't played since getting removed in a double switch Sunday while being bothered by pain in his thumb. There's been inflammation the last few weeks from getting jammed at the plate.

"It just didn't look good, we saw that early on," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "The swing through just didn't feel right."

St. Louis Cardinals' Jhonny Peralta watches his solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, July 16, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

The three-time All-Star underwent surgery in March for an injury in a different spot on the thumb from landing awkwardly on the thumb, but general manager John Mozeliak said there was no doubt the two injuries are related.

The team is hopeful Peralta will resume baseball activities in 10 days but wasn't sure whether he would be ready to go at the end of the 15 days.

"I think we were trying to be patient with this," Mozeliak said. "I think the best thing for him right now is some rest."

Peralta averaged 19 homers and 73 RBIs the previous two seasons. He moved to third base due to the emergence of rookie All-Star shortstop Aledmys Diaz.

Greg Garcia started at third base Monday and Jedd Gyorko was to have played that spot Tuesday but the game was postponed.

Outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker was recalled from Class AAA Memphis to replace Peralta. St. Louis also recalled right-handed reliever Miguel Socolovich and designated catcher Mike McKenry for assignment.

Socolovich was called up because of the potential workload in the bullpen with 17 games in a row.

Hazelbaker was on the opening day roster and has made 44 starts, batting .250 with seven homers and 19 RBIs. He has three homers, six RBIs and a .368 average as a pinch hitter.

Socolovich is 2-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 35 games at Memphis.

Peralta, in the third year of a four-year, $53 million deal, joins fellow starters Brandon Moss and Matt Carpenter on the DL. Mozeliak said Moss (ankle) could begin a rehab assignment early next week.