Elbow Injury Lands Prior on 15-Day Disabled List

Right-hander Mark Prior was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, one day after he was hit in the right elbow by a line drive.

An MRI exam showed a compression fracture near the elbow, trainer Mark O’Neal said.

Prior, O’Neal and Cub Manager Dusty Baker would not speculate how long Prior would be out.

“It could have been a lot worse; it could have been my career,” Prior said.

“Everyone knows the risks going out there and playing.

“It’s a game that’s supposed to be fun, but there are some inherent risks that go with it. I’ll be back. I’ve been hit before and it’s no big deal.”

This is Prior’s fifth trip to the disabled list since he made his debut in 2002, and his second this season. He began this season on the disabled list because of inflammation in the elbow, delaying his first start until April 13. In nine starts this year, he is 4-1 with a 2.93 earned-run average.

Prior’s injury is another blow for a depleted rotation. Kerry Wood has been on the disabled list since May 1 because of a shoulder injury.

The Cubs recalled right-hander Roberto Novoa from triple-A Iowa to take Prior’s roster spot.

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The Giants acquired right-handed reliever LaTroy Hawkins from the Cubs for right-handers Jerome Williams and David Aardsma, finally putting a veteran setup man in the shaky San Francisco bullpen.

San Francisco’s beleaguered relievers already have made 167 appearances this season -- the most in the majors. The bullpen, which has given up 11 runs in 10 2/3 innings over the last three games, has one of the NL’s worst ERA’s.

Hawkins was 15-3 with a 2.00 ERA as the primary setup man on Minnesota’s 2002 and 2003 AL Central championship teams. The 31-year-old had 25 saves for the Cubs in 2004 and made 21 relief appearances for Chicago this season.

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Oriole outfielder Larry Bigbie was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring, bringing to five the number of starters Baltimore has lost to injury in 18 days.

Bigbie, who’s hitting .241 in 33 games, originally hurt his hamstring on May 12. After sitting out five games, he returned on May 19 and played in six games before sitting out Friday night’s 4-3 loss to Detroit.

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Devil Ray right-hander Rob Bell walked eight of 10 batters in his second extended spring training game since being put on the 15-day disabled list because of personal and psychological issues.

Bell went on the disabled list May 14, four days after he pitched against the Chicago White Sox.

In Saturday’s game against New York Yankee minor leaguers, Bell threw only 16 of 53 pitches for strikes. Three of his first eight pitches went over the catcher’s head to the backstop.