ATLANTA — Milwaukee manager Ned Yost benched veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins Friday and said he would look at prospects Gabe Gross and Corey Hart the rest of the season.
Jenkins, a 1995 first-round pick, ranks fourth on the team's all-time home-run list and has the longest active service with the Brewers. He made his seventh opening-day start this season, his eighth full season with the team.
Yost said Jenkins' status made the decision more difficult.
"That's probably why it took me so long to do it," Yost said.
"It was very hard. It wasn't a decision that I took lightly."
Jenkins, 32, is hitting .254 with 10 homers and 57 RBIs in 397 at-bats. He hit .292 with 25 homers and 86 RBIs last season.
Jenkins went 142 at-bats between homers this season, from May 20 to July 5, the longest drought of his career.
He has 184 career homers, trailing only Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas and Cecil Cooper on the team's career list.
ROCKIES RECALL SPILBORGHS: The Colorado Rockies designated outfielder Jorge Piedra for assignment on Friday and recalled outfielder Ryan Spilborghs from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
RAMIREZ PUT ON DL: The Atlanta Braves placed Horacio Ramirez on the disabled list Friday with a sprained left middle finger and recalled Kevin Barry from Triple-A Richmond. Barry will make his first major league start Saturday against Milwaukee.
JOHNSON REINSTATED: Former All-Star Howard Johnson was reinstated as the hitting coach at Triple-A Norfolk after being suspended by the New York Mets for leaving the minor league team without permission to go see his son play in a baseball tournament. He was suspended last week and will rejoin Norfolk on Monday.
ROLEN MAY SIT OUT SERIES: St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen likely will sit out the three-game weekend series in Pittsburgh because of back spasms that forced him out of Wednesday night's game in Cincinnati. Rolen initially had discomfort during batting practice and was lifted after going 0-for-2. He sat out of Thursday afternoon's game against the Reds and felt better Friday, but manager Tony La Russa doesn't expect him to start again until Tuesday. The Cardinals are off Monday.