Ausmus to have back surgery

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The fortunate injury. Sounds like an oxymoron, like loving to hate the Giants. OK, maybe not quite like that.

Only the Dodgers may have experienced just that this spring when Russell Martin went down early and missed most of the preseason.

That enabled the Dodgers to play catcher A.J. Ellis all spring long. Ellis hit a modest .278 but proved capable behind the plate, and the staff and organization gained confidence in his defensive ability.

That looked like a bonus when backup catcher Brad Ausmus went down the first week of the season with a back injury.

It looks even more significant now with the news that Ausmus will undergo surgery Thursday for a herniated disk.

Ausmus, who turned 41 Wednesday, is expected to be out until late this summer.

Ellis, who’s been in the Dodgers organization for eight years, will now get his most extended look in the majors. He’s already started one game, going 0-for-1 but earning two runs batted in with a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly.

Martin, meanwhile, appears to have returned from his groin injury in good shape and no worse off for having missed more of the spring. Fortunately, for the Dodgers.

-- Steve Dilbeck