Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who agreed to a six-year extension prior to the season, will miss at least two months with a hairline fracture in his right hip, manager Kevin Cash said Friday.
"He's going to be out a while,'' manager Kevin Cash told MLB Network Radio. "He's got a hairline fracture in his hip region. He's going to at minimum be shut down six to eight weeks."
Kiermaier left Thursday's 7-5 win over the White Sox after sliding awkwardly into first base while trying to beat out an infield hit. He had gone 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a stolen base prior to the injury.
"It's just a funky, awkward slide, and I'm paying for it now," Kiermaier, who is using crutches, said before Friday night's game against Oakland. "Unfortunately, that's something I have to live with now. I expect a full recovery. This will probably be my last slide into first base for quite some time."
He underwent a CT scan Friday and was placed on the 10-day disabled list.
The 27-year-old outfielder, who won an AL Gold Glove Award last season, is hitting .258 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs after signing the $53.5 million extension, which could keep him with the Rays through 2022.
He's struggled this season defensively, committing six errors in 62 games. He had two errors in 105 games last season.
Cash said Mallex Smith has been called up from Triple-A Durham and will be the Rays' primary center fielder.
"Mallex is going to play center for us," Cash said. "Everything we've heard from Triple-A -- the Triple-A staff, [Bulls manager] Jared Sandberg -- is that he's a game-changer defensively. He's played well both offensively and defensively there. So we're going to go with him to start."
Cash said another possibility would be to shift Steven Souza Jr. to center field.
"We're not going to replace him [Kiermaier], but this team is capable of overcoming injuries, and I know his is a big one, but we'll overcome it," Cash said.
The Rays also placed first baseman Rickie Weeks Jr. on the 10-day DL because of a right shoulder impingement and acquired infield Taylor Featherston from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.
Shortstop Matt Duffy, out following offseason Achilles tendon surgery, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.