Yankees CF Ellsbury leaves in 4th with right knee injury

WASHINGTON (AP) Wearing a black brace on his sprained right knee, New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury said he has not been told how long he might be sidelined - and doesn't expect to know a prognosis until seeing a team doctor on Friday.

Ellsbury was put on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, a day after getting hurt during an at-bat in New York's 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Washington Nationals.

''It's not something that requires surgery,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, adding: ''This is not doom and gloom.''

Girardi said he could not provide a timetable for Ellsbury's recovery.

''It is disappointing, without a doubt, but hopefully it's something quick. ... Get back to playing, help the team win. There'll still be hopefully a lot of time before the season's over, obviously. But until they give me a timeline, I really don't know,'' Ellsbury said. ''But obviously trying to stay optimistic, stay positive, do everything we can, as far as in the training room, to get this thing back 100 percent and out there playing.''

He said he had an MRI after the injury Tuesday but all he was told was that the problem is on the outside of his knee.

To fill Ellsbury's spot on the 25-man roster, the Yankees selected the contract of outfielder Slade Heathcott from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. They transferred pitcher Chase Whitley to the 60-day DL, a day after he had season-ending Tommy John surgery, to clear room on the 40-man roster for Heathcott.

Ellsbury is the Yankees' leadoff hitter and ranks first on the team this season in batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.412), runs (29) and stolen bases (14).

He joined the team before the 2014 season after winning two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox. He finished second in AL MVP voting in 2011.

''I don't necessarily think one guy can replace him. He's as good as it gets when it comes to being the leadoff hitter and our center fielder. Collectively, you do your best,'' Girardi said. ''We brought up Slade and Slade is going to play. I chose not to put him in the lineup today, but I'm going to get him in there.''

For Wednesday's game at the Nationals, left fielder Brett Gardner moved up one spot from second in the batting order. Chris Young shifted from right field to center, and Carlos Beltran - who wasn't in the starting lineup Tuesday - started in right field Wednesday.

Ellsbury said he was hurt in the fourth inning Tuesday when his cleat got caught during a swing and his knee twisted. He wound up walking, then moved to a second on a groundout, and eventually came around to score.

''I knew it wasn't right,'' he said, ''but I was just kind of hoping it would go away.''