Encarnacion expects brief stay

In batting practice at Cashman Field on Friday, 51s third baseman Edwin Encarnacion belted a couple of balls off the scoreboard -- situated 474 feet away from home plate.

One of six players to hit three home runs in a game in the majors this season, the 27-year-old third baseman still has plenty of pop.

"He's got unlimited power potential," Las Vegas manager Dan Rohn said.

But after being sidelined by several injuries since the start of last season and hitting only .200 (24-for-120) this year for Toronto, Encarnacion was designated for assignment Monday by the Blue Jays.

With no team willing to pick up his $4.75 million salary for this season, he cleared waivers and suited up for the 51s on Wednesday, intent on making it back to the majors.

Encarnacion went 1-for-4 in Friday's 11-2 loss to Sacramento (38-38) and is batting .333 (4-for-12) in three games for Las Vegas (34-42).

"I just came here to play baseball, clear my mind and get everything right to go back to the big leagues," the 6-foot-2-inch, 230-pound slugger said. "Right now I feel healthy. I feel a lot better.

"I think they're going to give me another opportunity."

Encarnacion compiled three straight solid seasons for the Cincinnati Reds from 2006 to 2008, batting .271 and averaging 19 homers and 72 RBIs in 134 games each year.

But native of the Dominican Republic endured a miserable start last season, when he hit .127 in April and broke his wrist, an injury that forced him to miss two months.

He was traded to Toronto on July 31 in a deal for Scott Rolen and batted .240 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 42 games for the Blue Jays. But he also missed a couple of weeks with a pulled hamstring late in the year, a pattern that continued this season.

He missed all but a handful of spring training games, after his left wrist flared up again, and was out from April 14 to May 17 with a sore right shoulder.

"Injuries hurt me a lot the last two years," he said. "I've been hurt too much."

Encarnacion, who clubbed a career-high 26 homers for the Reds in 2008, homered in his first at-bat back for Toronto and smashed three solo shots in a May 21 game against Arizona.

He has nine homers and 22 RBIs in 37 games this year for the Blue Jays, but he also made seven errors and hit only .145 in his last 22 games.

Despite the demotion, Rohn said Encarnacion has a great attitude and should soon be ready to return to the majors.

"He needs to show consistency with both his bat and his defense, and he'll get right back up there," he said.

■ NOTES -- Toronto traded 51s third baseman Kyle Phillips to the San Diego Padres for cash considerations. ... Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn signed autographs in the concourse at Cashman Field before Friday's game. The San Diego Padres great also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.