Cubs place Hollandsworth on DL with shin injury

CHICAGO -- Todd Hollandsworth, who's been a valuable spot starter, backup and pinch-hitter this season for the Chicago Cubs, was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a bruised right shin.

Hollandsworth fouled a ball off his shin last Sunday against the White Sox and has been bothered by nerve problems in his right leg.

He was batting .318 with eight homers and 22 RBI. While Sammy Sosa was on the disabled list with a back injury earlier this season, Hollandsworth got most of the playing time in right field.

He has played in 32 games with 26 starts in right and also seen action in left field and first base. As a pinch-hitter, he's batting .563 (9-for-16) with two homers and four RBI.

"We will miss Holly a lot," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said.

With third baseman Aramis Ramirez expected to miss three to five days after straining a groin Friday while sliding, the Cubs called up infielder Brendan Harris from Triple-A Iowa to take Hollandsworth's roster spot.

While with Colorado in 2001, Hollandsworth missed most of the season after fouling a ball off his shin, fracturing it and crushing a nerve.

His current injury is not considered as serious.

"We felt we couldn't play two guys short. The more time the better," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said of the Cubs' latest injuries in a season filled with them.

"He had a significant injury somewhat connected to the problem he had in Colorado. A couple of weeks is probably going to be the right thing."

Harris batted .311 with eight homers and 26 RBI in 56 games at Iowa and can play second, third or short.