Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier to miss two months with hip fracture

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will miss at least two months due to a hairline fracture in his right hip, manager Kevin Cash told MLB Network Radio on Friday.

Kiermaier was hurt while sliding awkwardly into first base during Tampa Bay's win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

"He's going to be out a while," Cash said. "He's going to go on the DL. He's got a hairline fracture in his hip region. He's going to at minimum be shut down six to eight weeks."

Kiermaier was trying to beat out an infield hit when he made the decision to dive.

"You always see bad things happen when people slide into first base," Kiermaier said after the contest. "I'm just trying to keep the inning alive."

Kiermaier signed a six-year, $53 million contract extension in the offseason. He is batting .258 with seven homers this season.

Tampa Bay recalled outfielder Mallex Smith from Triple-A Durham. Cash said Smith will be the club's primary center fielder.

Smith is 6-for-23 in nine games with the Rays this season. He was batting .311 with three homers in 30 games at Durham.