Galvis has MRSA; Ruf out 4-6 weeks

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies have confirmed that Freddy Galvis does have MRSA and that Darin Ruf will be out 4-6 weeks with a grade 1/2 left oblique strain.

Before Friday's 2-2 tie with the Boston Red Sox at Bright House Field, general manager Ruben Amaro said Galvis was being tested for MRSA.

After the game he confirmed the results.

"Right now we are more concerned about his overall health than anything else," Amaro said. "He will be in the hospital for a little bit but we are not sure how long."

According to the Mayo Clinic, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auerus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections

This began when Galvis had an abscess removed from his left knee earlier in the week.

He was in pain and later readmitted to the hospital.

Galvis and Ruf will obviously begin the season on the disabled list. Amaro doesn't know how long Galvis will be sidelined.

As for Ruf, just as a frame of reference, Chase Utley had a very mild grade 1 strain last year and he missed 28 games, so Ruf's is more severe, and the Phillies will have to see if he is able to come back in the estimated time frame.