Injury Lands Kent on Disabled List

With the discomfort in his left hand having failed to subside in the five days since he injured it against the Washington Nationals, Jeff Kent was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, retroactive to May 28.

An MRI exam confirmed the diagnosis of a sprain, and the Dodgers second baseman received a cortisone shot in an attempt to decrease inflammation in the area.

“The progress hadn’t been there,” said Kent, who suffered the injury May 27 when his hand slipped off his bat during a swing. “The day after it felt pretty good, but after that I was making no progress.”

Infielder Joel Guzman became the latest prized prospect to be promoted before the Dodgers would have preferred when he was recalled from triple-A Las Vegas.

Guzman, batting .291 with six homers and 33 runs batted in for the 51s, came into Thursday’s game at third base in the eighth inning and grounded into a double play in his only at-bat.

Once a highly touted shortstop, Guzman had also played left field and first base for the 51s before moving to third when it became apparent that Bill Mueller’s balky right knee would sideline him longer than expected. Dodgers physicians are expected to reevaluate Mueller today.

Ramon Martinez was originally expected to play second base in Kent’s absence Thursday before being scratched because of lingering pain in his left foot.

Martinez had been forced to leave the Dodgers’ game against Atlanta on Wednesday after fouling a pitch off the foot.

Willy Aybar moved from third base to second to replace Martinez, with Olmedo Saenz coming off the bench to play third. Martinez was available to pinch-hit.

Kent became the 11th Dodger to go on the disabled list since March 29, though the team has thrived with an influx of minor leaguers.

“We’re used to having big holes to have to fill,” Dodgers Manager Grady Little said.

“We’ve been fortunate to be able to call on some other people to come in and do the job, and they’ve done an outstanding job.”

Kent expressed optimism that he would be able to return as soon as he is eligible to come off the disabled list on June 12.

“There’s no big tears, there’s no fractures of the bone, so I’m hoping this is just a bad, bad sprain that is just going to take a few days to heal,” he said.

After testing his hand in recent days by playing catch and swinging a bat, Kent said he would rest for a few days in an effort to accelerate the healing process.

*

Dioner Navarro swung a bat for the first time since bruising his right wrist early last month, a significant step in what has been a slower-than-expected recovery.

Though he said he could feel “something still going on in there,” the Dodgers catcher expressed hope that his wrist would continue to get better.

“It’s good to know that now I’m able to swing the bat,” Navarro said. “Last week I didn’t know when was going to be the first time. Hopefully, [today] it feels better and better and I can get ready.”

*

Cesar Izturis, recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery, went 0 for 3 while playing second base in his first rehabilitation start with Las Vegas.... The Dodgers completed the Cody Ross trade by acquiring Ben Kozlowski from Cincinnati. The left-hander was 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA for double-A Chattanooga this season.