ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays late Saturday placed centerfielder Rocco Baldelli on the 15-day disabled list with strained right quadriceps or thigh muscles.
He has been nagged by the injury all season and suffered his latest injury Friday night at Texas while running out a ground ball.
The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Sunday Baldelli, who was batting .279 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI, lobbied against the move with Manager Lou Piniella to no avail, and reluctantly accepted it.
"I respect their decisions. They have to do what they have to do," Baldelli, who also has a league-high nine outfield assists, told the newspaper.
"Let's get him really well and see if he can give us a good last five weeks of the season," Piniella said.
The Devil Rays recalled outfielder Joey Gathright from Triple-A Durham of the International League to take Baldelli's roster spot.
