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Monday, July 7
Updated: July 8, 2:33 PM ET
 
Outfielder's breakout year halted by torn ACL

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson went on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a torn ligament in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Corey Patterson
Patterson was a major factor why the Cubs are contending in the NL Central.

Patterson tore the ACL and cartilage in his left knee when he beat out an infield single in the eighth inning Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He crossed the base and then dropped to the ground, rolling over and grabbing his knee while wincing in pain.

Patterson stayed on the ground for several minutes while trainers attended to him, but walked off the field on his own. Patterson was surprised with the results on Monday.

"Yesterday when it happened, I was in a lot of pain, but it seemed after maybe 30 seconds it went away," Patterson said. "I was able to get up and walk off the field, I thought I just sprained it pretty bad. It was just unfortunate that I got the bad news today, but that's all part of it. It happens, now I just got to deal with it."

Cubs trainer David Tumbas doesn't expect Patterson to be back until next spring training.

Patterson has been enjoying a breakout season in his second full year in the majors. He's hitting .298 with 13 homers and 55 RBI in 83 games. He also has 16 stolen bases.


Corey Patterson's knee injury halts a breakthrough fantasy campaign. Questionable plate discipline -- 15 walks and 77 strikeouts -- might have caught up with him, but he's one of just 10 players providing fantasy owners with double-digit home runs and stolen bases and one of six players with double-digit steals and at least 50 RBI.

Tom Goodwin won't replace Patterson's power, but the veteran could be a fantasy find. A player whose fantasy value far exceeds his real offensive impact, Goodwin already has 13 steals in limited action. If asked to start the majority of Chicago's remaining 85 games, he could easily steal an additional 35. But Goodwin's .286 OBP and lack of power could force the Cubs to seek a trade. Veteran Trenidad Hubbard, 37, could factor in the mix. Hubbard was hitting .322 with a .406 OBP and 17 steals for Triple-A Iowa. Grab Goodwin for steals, but don't count on the Cubs sticking with him as a regular.
--Graham Hays

  • Sign up now for Midseason Fantasy Baseball!
  • "It's a rough day. You feel sick to your stomach because he has made so much progress, he is playing so well," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "These things happen. We have to find a way. It's been a tough year already as far as injuries are concerned."

    Sammy Sosa was on the disabled list in May after his nail on his right was removed in a surgical procedure.

    To take Patterson's spot on the roster, the Cubs purchased outfielder Trenidad Hubbard's contract from Triple-A Iowa. Hubbard was expected to be in Chicago in time for the Cubs' game against the Florida Marlins on Monday night.

    Cubs general manager Jim Hendry didn't count out other moves.

    "We will continue to explore other options," Hendry said. "We are only two games back. We are not going to give up. We all know that we have been working on some other options to help the ball club, this will just make it a little bit additional work. If there is something out there that makes sense we will explore that too."

    Hubbard is hitting .322 with four homers and 19 RBI at Iowa, and was recently chosen for the Triple-A All-Star game. He has spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with eight teams, hitting .257 with 16 homers and 70 RBI.

    To make room for Hubbard on the 40-man roster, the Cubs shifted pitcher Will Ohman to the 60-day disabled list.

    To make room for Hubbard on the 40-man roster, the Cubs shifted pitcher Will Ohman to the 60-day disabled list.

    Pittsburgh's Kenny Lofton will replace Patterson on the fan ballot to decide the final NL All-Star representative. The other four players on the ballot for the final NL roster spot are: Orlando Cabrera of the Montreal Expos; Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins; Geoff Jenkins of the Milwaukee Brewers; and Benito Santiago of the San Francisco Giants.

    Fans can vote for the final All-Star at MLB.com and ESPN.com.





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