Phils need a centerfielder for at least 6-8 weeks

Ben Revere's parents always told him he was a fast healer.

On Sunday morning, the Phillies outfielder hoped his parents would be right again. The Phils' top hitter entered the clubhouse on crutches with his right leg in a black walking boot.

Revere suffered a broken malleolus, the inner bone of his right ankle, Saturday night when he fouled the ball off his foot during the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.

He said he should be sidelined for six to eight weeks but will know for sure after a Monday appointment with foot and ankle specialist Steven Raikin at Jefferson Hospital's Rothman Institute. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Revere's recovery: "It's something that's going to take a while."

"A lot of it will depend on what happens tomorrow and what the specialist tells us," Amaro said. "If it's going to be a long-term thing, we'll look to upgrade that position," perhaps in a trade.

Revere, who was on a 10-game hitting streak, was replaced Sunday by John Mayberry Jr. Revere had found his groove over the last two months and was hitting .388 in July to lift his season average to a team-leading .305.

Cesar Hernandez, who had been transitioning from second baseman to centerfielder, will play center in the minors for the next 10 days to see whether he is Revere's replacement. The 23-year-old Hernandez played nine games for the Phillies earlier this season, hitting .250 in 28 at-bats.

Amaro said Hernandez would join Reading on Monday as Lehigh Valley begins the three-day triple-A all-star break. He was the IronPigs' starting centerfielder Sunday for the fifth time this month. Hernandez is hitting .306 in 80 games at Lehigh Valley.

"He struggled [Saturday], but it's a new position for him," Amaro said. "But we'll give him a shot."

After fouling the ball off his foot, Revere collected himself and finished the at-bat. He grounded into a game-ending double play but was able to run down the first-base line. He said he was not sure whether that aggravated the injury.

It was just a freak accident, Revere said, and as he walked back to the dugout he hoped his ankle was only bruised. Revere said it was the first time he ever broke a bone.

"I was talking to my grandfather," he said. "He said, 'It's part good that you're at your peak right now, like one of the hottest hitters in the game. You're not the bottom of the barrel.' It's tough. I want to be out there for my teammates, but the only thing I can do is support them."