DUNEDIN, FLA. — The Toronto Blue Jays will be without their biggest impact addition of the off-season for two to three weeks minimum to start the regular season.
Third baseman Scott Rolen had a screw put in his fractured right middle finger Monday in Baltimore, and must now wait for at least two weeks to have it removed before he can begin strengthening the hand. Rolen suffered a non-displaced fracture of the finger when he was hit on the hand by a ground ball during infield practice on Sunday. Rolen also lost the nail on the finger.
"It's tolerance at that point," said general manager J.P. Ricciardi. "It's definitely two weeks and probably a little longer but I can't give you an exact date. I don't know how he'll respond to moving his hand and things like that. I don't want to give you a best-case or worst-case scenario because I really can't pinpoint it.
"The fracture isn't really the problem. It's just that when he ripped the nail off he took off another layer of skin, and it exposed the bone."
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Marco Scutaro will replace Rolen at third base, and manager John Gibbons said before last night's Grapefruit League game here against the Cincinnati Reds that left-hand-hitting outfielder Buck Coats would likely come north with the team at the end of the week instead of Rolen. The Blue Jays open the regular season next Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Rolen was having a strong spring at the plate and had written his name large all over clubhouse life. Ricciardi said that the club would not rush Rolen back as a designated hitter.
The Blue Jays also confirmed that closer B.J. Ryan would not break camp with the team. Ryan, who is rehabilitating from Tommy John tendon transplant surgery, has developed forearm tightness and Ricciardi said he would remain in Florida at least until mid-April.
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