Ailing Andruw Jones is hitting a horrendous .161 in 74 games with the Dodgers. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones was returned to the disabled list Tuesday with patellar tendinitis in his left knee.
He is eligible to return Aug. 25.
Jones, 31, has endured an injury-plagued campaign with the Dodgers, landing on the disabled list for the first time in his major-league career and missing 38 games following May 27 surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
Jones, winner of nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence, is hitting just .161 with three home runs, 14 batted in and 21 runs scored in 74 games this season — paltry numbers for a proven slugger making $9 million US.
The previous three seasons, he averaged 39 homers and 117 runs batted in.
Jones is a career .263 hitter with 371 HRs, 1,131 RBIs and 1,066 runs in 1,835 games since breaking into the majors with the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 15, 1996.
When Atlanta severed ties with him last Oct. 2, he signed a two-year, $36.2-million US contract with Los Angeles on Dec. 6.
Jones received a $12.2-million US signing bonus, of which $5.1 million US is payable in 2008, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million US in 2010, plus a no-trade clause.
With files from the Associated Press
