7/26 Vitters has season-ending injury

Josh Vitters’ season appears to be over. Vitters suffered a broken middle finger after he was hit by a pitch Sunday in Tennessee’s game against Mississippi. Braves starter Jacob Thompson hit Vitters in the fifth inning and the third baseman immediately came out of the game.

Vitters was headed to Chicago to be seen by the team’s hand specialist either Monday or Tuesday.

“It’s a shame,” Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita said Monday. “He stepped up, he was hitting in the middle of the lineup, hitting third. You could see he was on the come to finish strong, in the middle of the action on a team palying outstanding baseball. His defense was improving and he was giving quality at-bats.”

The Cubs’ No. 1 pick in 2007 — and third overall — Vitters began the year with Class A Daytona and was bumped up to Double-A after 28 games with a .291/.350/.445 line. Although he’s batting .223 overall, he was hitting .303 in his last 10 games.

Vitters missed time in 2008 with an injury to his left hand.

– Carrie Muskat