UPDATE: The Pirates placed Jordy Mercer on the 15-day disabled list with a lower leg contusion and MCL sprain. As expected, Brent Morel has been called up from Triple-A Indianapolis.
9:08 AM: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer was injured in yesterday’s loss to the Brewers when Carlos Gomez slid into him in the second inning while trying to break up a double play. It appears that Gomez and Mercer’s knees collided. Mercer was taken off the field on a cart. Mercer is back in Pittsburgh today to have his knee looked at.
No one seems to have taken issue with the slide. Clint Hurdle said after the game yesterday that it was a “baseball play,” even if it was a hard one. Gomez, for his part, tweeted out his thoughts after the game:Want to take a moment to send my thoughts and prayers to Jordy_Mercer his family and the @Pirates organization.
— Carlos Gomez (@C_Gomez27) July 20, 2015
It was never my intention to hurt him or take him out of the game. Hope you have a speedy recovery and are out on the field soon.
— Carlos Gomez (@C_Gomez27) July 20, 2015
Jung Ho Kang, who has been starting at third lately for the injured Josh Harrison, will take over at shortstop while Mercer is out. Kang says he is comfortable with the switch given that he played most of his time at short while in Korea. Bill Brink of the Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are likely to make a roster move today before the game, probably calling up Brent Morel, who can play third base.
If you have an infielder to shop, you may want to call the Pirates.
