Patterson Out 6-8 Weeks

Ryan Patterson will be out 6-8 weeks after being hit by a pitch in a spring training game on Thursday.

The injury happened in the top of the ninth inning. Red sox pitcher Edgar Martinez had just entered the game and was facing Patterson with John Hattig on first base and two outs.

Martinez threw an inside pitch which hit Patterson on the arm. The outfielder was immediately removed from the game and was taken immediately for X-Rays which showed a break in his ulnar bone.

"The doctors said I will be sidelined between six-to-eight weeks," Patterson told InsideTheDome.com Friday. "I'm going to have the surgery in Tampa on Monday and then begin the rehab process."

Patterson batted .288 with 19 home runs and 69 RBI in 84 games with Dunedin last season, and .257 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI in 49 games with New Hampshire.

The 23-year-old saw action in 5 spring training games with Toronto this season and was batting .300 with one home run and three runs batted in.

Patterson was to begin the 2007 season with Double-A New Hampshire and many scouts expected him to finish the year off at Triple-A. With the injury Patterson will now likely spend most, if not all, of the season with New Hampshire.