The Washington Nationals announced Thursday that catcher Matt Wieters had surgery on his hamstring on Wednesday. There is no timetable for his return, but he could miss significant time.
Wieters went on the 10-day disabled list May 11, a day after he injured his hamstring while making a turn at first base after a single into the outfield in Arizona.
The former Orioles catcher is in the last year of a two-year deal with Washington. He signed with the Nationals after playing with Baltimore through the 2016 season.
The switch-hitter from Georgia Tech was also on the disabled list from April 2 to 11 with a mild left oblique strain. He is hitting .231 in 23 games this season.
“We’re thinking it’s probably hamstring, but it’s kind of in the back of the connection point of where there’s some other things running in there,” Wieters said last week. “So we just want to make sure. Hopefully it is hamstring, and hopefully it’s not too bad. And we’ll see what steps are next.”
The starting catcher now is Pedro Severino, with rookie Spencer Kieboom as the backup.
The two catchers on the Triple-A Syracuse roster are big league veteran Tuffy Gosewisch and Jake Lowery. A native of Richmond, Lowery, 27, was drafted out of James Madison University by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round in 2011.
Lowery was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Syracuse earlier this week after hitting .344 for the Senators in nine games. He was 0-for-4 in his first career Triple-A game on Thursday at Rochester.
Wieters is one of several Opening Day starters who has been on the disabled list this year.
Others currently on the disabled list include left fielder Adam Eaton, second baseman Daniel Murphy and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Third baseman Anthony Rendon came off the DL on May 5 after a toe injury.
Washington is 24-18 and entered Thursday just two games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves.
The Nationals are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series starting on Friday night, weather permitting. Max Scherzer (7-1) is slated to pitch for the Nationals on Friday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.