PHILADELPHIA — Tadahito Iguchi looked down at his new jersey, turned to his interpreter and smiled. The Philadelphia Phillies new second baseman already enjoys his new home.
"I'm very excited to join the Phillies and I'm starting to like my red uniform," Iguchi said through interpreter David Yamamoto.
Iguchi was 1-for-2 with a walk and sacrifice fly in Philadelphia's 10-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. The Phillies traded a minor league pitcher to the Chicago White Sox to get Iguchi on Friday, hours after All-Star Chase Utley had surgery on his broken right ring finger.
When Iguchi came to the plate for the first time, he heard the familiar chant: "Goooch!"
"I'm honored to be welcomed by the fans," he said.
Iguchi batted .251 this season with 17 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 31 RBIs in 90 games for the White Sox. He hit .273 with 39 home runs, 169 RBIs and 216 runs scored in three seasons in Chicago.
Utley was having an MVP-caliber season before he got hurt when he was struck by a pitch from Washington's John Lannan, in the fifth inning of the pitcher's major league debut on Thursday. Utley is batting .336 with 41 doubles, 17 home runs and 82 RBIs. He could be back in three weeks.
Until then, Iguchi will try to fill his shoes.
"I'm very aware of how great a player Mr. Utley is and I have tremendous respect for him," Iguchi said.
Assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said the Phillies might consider moving Iguchi to third base when Utley returns. Iguchi played shortstop in Japan for several years, but his experience at third base is limited. For now, Iguchi doesn't have to worry about adjusting to a new position.
"I'm open to all options," he said. "I'm here to help the Phillies win."
Iguchi is earning $3.2 million this season in the final year of a contract. He'll be a free agent after the season and hopes to stay in the major leagues, though he'd consider returning to play in Japan.
While Iguchi is taking Utley's spot in the field, leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins now is filling the important No. 3 hole in the batting order. Rollins leads the National League in total bases. He had 237 going into Saturday night's game.
CAMP OPTIONED: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays optioned struggling reliever Shawn Camp to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, one day after Grant Balfour was obtained from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Camp was 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in 50 games. Balfour was in uniform for Saturday night's game against Boston. Tampa Bay sent minor league reliever Seth McClung to the Brewers in the trade for Balfour completed late Friday night.
ULLGER INJURED: Minnesota Twins third-base coach Scott Ullger, a fomer Salt Lake Buzz manager,was injured Saturday night when he was hit by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout in Cleveland. Casey Blake of the Indians hit the hard shot into the dugout in the eighth inning. Ullger's injury and status were not disclosed. Bench coach Steve Liddle took Ullger's place in the coaching box to start the ninth as Twins trainers attended to Ullger.
BEES TRANSACTION: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced today that the team has recalled catcher Ryan Budde from the Salt Lake Bees. The Angels also reassigned catcher Tim Duff to Salt Lake from double-A Arkansas. Budde, 27, is making his first career trip to the Majors. He averaged .295 (46/156) at the plate with 12 doubles and 28 RBI in 47 games for Salt Lake. Duff, 26, played in 48 games this season for the Travelers and hit .196 (31/158) with five doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBI. This is his first triple-A assignment.
CART ACCIDENT: A cart plunged about 30 feet down an elevator shaft at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Saturday, injuring two Aramark food service workers, officials said. At about 9 a.m., a cart driven by one of the workers hit the elevator doors on the third level of the stadium, opening the doors to the shaft, and then the cart moved forward and fell onto an elevator below, officials said.