After missing 17 days on the disabled list, shortstop Everth Cabrera has been activated by the San Diego Padres with reliever Burch Smith heading to Triple-A to make room on the team's roster, reports Corey Brock of MLB.com.
Cabrera hit the 15-Day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17 after he strained his left hamstring. Before that injury, Cabrera was on his way to establishing himself as one of the game's top shortstops after several difficult seasons spent struggling at the plate and battling injuries. Before landing on the DL, Cabrera was hitting .305/.382/.418. His four home runs this year are double his top career mark and he is still leading the National League with 31 stolen bases even after missing more than two weeks.
Cabrera has been a key component for the Padres this season. As Brock notes, San Diego went 5-12 during his time on the DL. Manager Bud Black highlighted his importance in talking with Brock, saying, "It's good to have him back. . . . We hope that he can pick up where he left off. He's a dynamic player who has come into his own . . . both offensively and defensively."
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