Blue Jays' Johnson activated from DL
July 6th, 2007
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays recalled outfielder Reed Johnson from his rehab assignment and activated him from the 60-day disabled list on Friday.
Johnson was placed on the disabled list on April 13 (retroactive to April 12) with a herniated disk in his lower back. He had surgery on April 17th, a procedure that has kept him sidelined for nearly three months.
Prior to that Johnson appeared in seven games with Toronto this season, hitting .265 with one home run and seven RBI.
In a corresponding move, outfielder Adam Lind has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Royals activate Grudzielanek
July 6, 2007
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -The Kansas City Royals activated second baseman Mark Grudzielanek from the disabled list Friday and optioned outfielder Shane Costa to Triple-A Omaha.
Grudzielanek, the 2006 Gold Glove winner, had been out since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage damage on June 15 - his second surgery since March.
Grudzielanek was hitting .267 with four homers and 26 RBIS in 52 games. He hasn't played since experiencing tightness in the knee against St. Louis on June 12.
Braves place Smoltz on DL after exam shows shoulder inflammation
July 6, 2007
ATLANTA (AP) -The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher John Smoltz on the 15-day disabled list on Friday after an MRI found inflammation - but apparently no structural damage - in his right shoulder.
The Braves said the MRI also showed a ``good'' rotator cuff, and as a result Smoltz will not travel to Birmingham, Ala., to meet with Dr. James Andrews, as had been tentatively planned.
Smoltz, 40, was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 3. He will be eligible to come off the DL on July 18. He will miss Tuesday's All-Star game in San Francisco as well as Saturday's scheduled start at San Diego.
Smoltz, who has experienced persistent discomfort in the shoulder, left the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday to return to Atlanta for Friday's examination with team doctors.
On Thursday, Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt was named to replace Smoltz on the NL All-Star team.
Smoltz (9-5, 3.07 ERA) got the decision in an 8-2 loss to the Dodgers on Monday night after giving up three runs and seven hits over six innings and striking out six. He has lost three of five starts since tweaking his shoulder on May 29.
Braves manager Bobby Cox said this week he hoped to avoid putting Smoltz on the disabled list.
Left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who was a combined 10-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Richmond, has been announced as Saturday's starter.