Grabowski’s Bat Goes on Disabled List

Oscar Robles and Mike Edwards could appreciate the creativity. Struggling outfielder Jason Grabowski will go with the flow. Antonio Perez says he is ready to play third base.

Instead of demoting Robles or Edwards to triple A to make room for Perez on the roster Wednesday, the Dodgers put Grabowski on the disabled list because of shoulder pain he has experienced since early in spring training.

The plan is for Grabowski, 28, to have a long minor league rehabilitation assignment once the injury heals, the better to cure his ailing swing.

Grabowski, an outfielder and emergency catcher whose primary role is pinch-hitting, is batting .152 with one home run in 33 at-bats. Manager Jim Tracy blames the poor performance on sporadic playing time.

“He’ll spend three or four days with us getting rest, treatment and one-on-one time with [batting coach] Tim Wallach,” Tracy said.

Grabowski said he injured his right shoulder throwing in spring training. He arrived with pitchers and catchers and threw too much.

“It was utilityman-itis,” he said. “I was going back and forth from catcher to the outfield and never threw at the same arm angle.”

He has received two cortisone shots since the season began. Still, the injury doesn’t affect his swing, so when trainer Stan Johnston brought up the subject of going on the disabled list, it surprised Grabowski.

“Nobody wants to go on the DL, but it’s a chance to get totally healthy,” he said. “What can I do?”

The move limits Tracy’s options late in games. Ricky Ledee, expected to be the primary left-handed pinch-hitter, is playing every day against right-handed pitchers because regular left fielder Jayson Werth has been on the disabled list.

Werth, who broke his wrist early in spring training when hit by a pitch, has been on a rehabilitation assignment at Las Vegas since May 5. He has had soreness in the wrist after games, is seven for 27 (.259) and could choose to extend his minor league stay beyond his May 25 scheduled return.

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