Major League Baseball

Pirates place Presley on the 15-day disabled list

Published Jul. 25, 2011 11:54 p.m. ET

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Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates' top draft pick from 2008, is getting another chance with the team.

The Pirates on Monday placed outfielder Alex Presley on the 15-day disabled list with a left hand contusion and recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Alvarez, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, began the season as Pittsburgh's starting third baseman. He hit only .208 (26 for 125) with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 36 games. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 20 with a right quad strain and then demoted to Indianapolis.

''The main thing I'm going to take out of that is that I kind of get to start out with a clean slate and start fresh,'' Alvarez said.

Manager Clint Hurdle said Presley's injury forced the move with Alvarez.

''Might have been a little sooner than we thought, but Pedro's made progress,'' Hurdle said. ''He's been swinging the bat extremely well. We'll get him plugged back in the lineup now while he's been swinging well.

''Obviously we need to add offense since one of our better offensive players has just been put on the DL.''

Presley was hitting .333 (27 for 81) with a home run and nine RBIs in 20 games for Pittsburgh.

Alvarez hit .365 (23 for 63) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 13 RBIs in 18 games in Triple-A.

''It's been good,'' Alvarez said after joining the team in Atlanta. ''I got a lot of work in, and I'm definitely going in the right direction.''

Alvarez said he worked on ''just everything'' at Indianapolis.

''Consistency with the bat and defense and just get my timing down,'' he said. ''It's been a while since I'd played. Most important was getting the timing down and work on getting that consistency back again.''

Xavier Paul took Presley's spot as the team's starting left fielder and leadoff hitter in Monday night's lineup.

The move with Presley is retroactive to July 23.

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