OAKLAND, Calif. -- Orioles shortstop Cesar Izturis was scheduled to undergo an appendectomy Friday night at a local hospital, a procedure that will likely force him to the disabled list.
Izturis reported to McAfee Coliseum on Friday complaining of stomach pains. He was then accompanied to the hospital by assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel to have a CT scan taken, which determined that he had appendicitis.
It's unknown how long Izturis will be out of the lineup. Signed to two-year deal in December, Izturis has started 45 games for the Orioles, hitting .260 with one home run and 13 RBIs, while stabilizing the team's defense with his play at shortstop.
"I think it would go without saying, if you lose a guy like Izturis for an extended period of time, it would be a major blow to this team," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said before learning that Izturis had appendicitis.
"That's how valuable he is, especially when you have the amount of young pitchers that we have on this club, and what he brings to us at a very, very important position. I'm hoping against hope here that it's not serious. If it is, it would be hard to deal with. It would be very difficult to replace him."
Trembley said Izturis has been dealing with stomach pain for the past couple of days but didn't report it to team officials until arriving at the ballpark Friday.
Robert Andino started last night in Izturis' place. He is hitting .256 with three RBIs in 20 games.
If Izturis goes on the disabled list, and that appears likely, the Orioles will choose between Triple-A infielders Jolbert Cabrera (.247, three homers, 25 RBIs), Carlos Rojas (.160, six RBIs) and Melvin Dorta (.300, one homer, four RBIs) to serve as a reserve infielder.
Justin Turner, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds this offseason in the Ramon Hernandez trade, was a lead candidate, but he is dealing with a sore wrist.
Cabrera, 34, has played parts of eight seasons in the majors, and is a career .257 hitter with 18 homers and 157 RBIs.
Extra rest for Koji
Trembley slightly reshuffled his rotation on Friday, a move necessitated by Koji Uehara's return from the disabled list and the four off days the team has in a 19-day span.
Uehara, on the disabled list since May 27 with a strained left hamstring, will throw another bullpen session Sunday and then be activated to make Thursday's start against the Seattle Mariners, likely at the expense of rookie David Hernandez, who appears the odd man out in the rotation after making two starts.
The decision to place Uehara in that spot, coupled by off days on June 15 and June 22, will allow the right-hander to make his next three starts on at least five days' rest, an important factor for a pitcher who is still trying to adapt to being in a five-man rotation.
Jeremy Guthrie, who started the series opener against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, will get the ball again Wednesday in the second game of the Seattle Mariners series at Camden Yards. Brad Bergesen will get that series and the nine-game homestand under way Tuesday. Guthrie and Bergesen are being kept as close to their normal schedule as possible. After facing the A's this weekend, Jason Berken and Rich Hill will each get an extra day of rest in between their next couple of starts.
"This will allow Guthrie and Bergesen to be more closely inclined to pitch on a regular five days," Trembley said.
