Ledee Glad to Have Werth Back Again

The return of left fielder Jayson Werth on Wednesday from the broken left wrist he suffered in the first game of spring training will cut into the playing time of Ricky Ledee.

And Ledee says he’s OK with that.

“When I signed here I knew what I was supposed to do,” said Ledee, who signed as a free agent on Dec. 6, 2004. “The whole time I knew I would be [the fourth outfielder] if everybody was here so I’m just grateful for the playing time I did get.

“I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to help out.”

Ledee, 31, has started 28 games in left field. The left-hander is batting .291 in 39 games with two home runs and 14 runs batted in.

“We’ll find a place for Ricky,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “What this afforded us was the flexibility to do some things we weren’t able to do before.”

Such as give Milton Bradley, J.D. Drew, Jeff Kent and Cesar Izturis a day off, Tracy said.

Ledee was one of the first players to welcome Werth back when he entered the visitor’s clubhouse at SBC Park.

“Jayson’s a great player,” Ledee said. “We’re stronger with him on the team.

“All this playing time gets me ready for what I have to do now. It won’t be any problem for me.”

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Tracy, on his afternoon meeting with rookie Jason Repko, who was optioned to triple-A Las Vegas to make roster room for Werth:

“I lauded him. I should have for the job that he has done. This move is to accommodate the return of Jayson Werth but also to provide for a young guy that’s going to get 500 at-bats a year at the major league level.

“He’s a winner; he’s a championship-caliber player on a championship-caliber team. He’s a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder ... he’ll be back.”

Repko, 24, batted .231 with four home runs and nine RBIs in 34 games.

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Right-hander Elmer Dessens (shoulder) threw his third bullpen session Wednesday, throwing 55 pitches and using his full repertoire of pitches, Tracy said.

Dessens had previously thrown 25 pitches (all fastballs) and 35 (fastballs and breaking balls).

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Clean-up hitter Jeff Kent was 0 for 4 Wednesday, making him hitless in his last 21 at-bats and five for his last 48 (.104).

“It’s the offensive woes that come with the ups and downs of taking 500 to 600 at-bats a year,” Tracy said.