The Benedicts' Disabled Nation

As August winds to a close, the Benedicts' walking wounded tour, 2011, remains in the hunt for the first division. Nine of the 35 Benedicts on Major League rosters are presently disabled - here is a report on the sidelined nine as we head down the final stretch.

1) Jose Reyes. Reyes' MVP campaign took a detour on August 7 when the Met shortstop left that night's game early with a stiff hamstring. Reyes begins a 3-day minor league rehab assignment at AA Binghamton on Wednesday with an eye toward a Monday return to Gotham. Reyes is hitting .336-5-37-34 for New York this year - a lone bright spot for the disappointing Mets this year.

2) Alex Presley. Presley, 26, emerged as a surprise cog in the Pirates' brief summer surge, only to see his potential break-out season derailed by a July 23 thumb injury. Never a highly regarded prospect, the former Mississippi Rebel star caught the Bucs' attention with a big 2010 season (.320-12-85-13) split between AA Altoona and AAA Indianapolis. He hit .333-1-9-4 in 20 games with the Pirates before the injury sidelined him. Now on rehab in Indianapolis, Presley is hitting .320 through 12 games. Pittsburgh was 12-8 with Presley in the line-up; they are 8-22 since.

3) Juan Uribe. Like much Dodger recent history, the team's decision to sign Juan Uribe this off-season has been a disaster. The Dodgers had high hopes for Uribe, who was coming off a big 2010 season for the rival Giants. So far, Uribe is hitting .204-4-28-2 and is sidelined with a hip injury sustained in late May. There are reports that Uribe may be malingering as the Dodgers try to figure out why he is not ready to return. Good luck with that.

4) Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon, like Presley, is a former college (Georgia Tech) outfielder who rose to prospect status with a big 2010 season at AA Tulsa. Blackmon, like Presley, won a place in the Major League lineup that was truncated by injury - in this case, a July 7 foot fracture. Blackmon's return this season is very unlikely.

5) Freddy Sanchez. Sanchez had surgery earlier this month to repair a torn labrium. He will not return in 2011.

6) Chase Headley. Headley fractured his pinky finger on August 7 and will be out until mid-September. Headley, once a hoped-for power source (22 home runs at AAA/MLB in 2008), Headley has reinvented himself as a punch-and-judy hitter with moderate speed in the Big Leagues . Headley has just he has just 15 home runs in his last 267 games while he has stolen 30 bases during this time (after stealing just 6 in his 376 game minor league career).

7) Andrew Cashner. Cashner impressed in his lone 2011 appearance and has not been heard from since then. Cashner began his rehab in Tennessee last night by allowing 3 hits in 0.2 innings. Even if the former TCU star returns to Chicago this year, he is not likely to have any measurable fantasy impact.

8) Rubby De La Rosa. De La Rosa had Tommy John surgery in early August and will be out until at least July, 2012.

9) Brian Wilson. Brian Wilson last appeared for the Giants on August 15, and is now on the disabled list with elbow inflammation. Wilson's injury is not expected to be season ending.