Doumit will have surgery Thursday to insert a pin to repair the fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist. He is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.

"It's the bone in the wrist which gets the least amount of blood supply, which lends to not a good prognosis (for) natural healing," general manager Neal Huntington said. "The quicker you get (the surgery) done, the better the chance of a quicker, full recovery."

Doumit was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday. Catcher Robinzon Diaz was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Doumit's fracture was confirmed yesterday by a CT scan. Doumit sustained the injury Sunday while swinging in his second at-bat of the game against Atlanta.

"This is something I didn't see coming," Doumit said. "You do everything you can in the offseason to prepare, and we're off to such a great start. We've got a good thing going. To have something like this (happen), it's devastating."

Doumit will have another CT scan in four or five weeks to determine how well the bone is healing. He opted to have the surgery rather than try to play through the injury and possible have more problems in the future.

Last season, Doumit made a speedier-than-expected recovery after fracturing his left thumb.

"I always try to beat the odds," Doumit said. "When someone tells me I can't do something, I try to prove them wrong.

"But with something like this and how delicate wrists are, it's better to be safe than sorry. As much as I want to be Superman and try to play on it, me just being a body wouldn't do the team any good if I can't play up to my capabilities."

In December, the Pirates gave Doumit, 28, a three-year, $10.7 million contract. His career has been riddled with stints on the DL due to a broken thumb, a concussion, wrist and ankle sprains, a torn hamstring, a broken finger, a sore elbow and back spasms.

Jason Jaramillo caught last night against the Florida Marlins. Manager John Russell said Jaramillo could get most of the starts, at least initially, in Doumit's absence.

"Jason has earned the right to see what he can do," Russell said. "The main thing is to keep them both fresh and keep them playing, because we're going to need both of them."

Russell downplayed the inexperience of Jaramillo and Diaz, who have a combined 46 days of major-league service time.

"We're fortunate we have two young guys who we feel can do a very good job," Russell said.

Jaramillo, 26, has started three games this season.

"On the one hand, I'm excited to be out there," Jaramillo said. "On the other, it's not good because we're losing a big part of this club."

Doumit's injury is more devastating than Jason Kendall's gruesome ankle blowout in 1999. Doumit has been a steadying influence on the starting rotation, which is off to its most promising start in years. Doumit also bats cleanup in a lineup which otherwise lacks sluggers.

First baseman Adam LaRoche batted fourth last night. Russell said the batting order will be in flux until Doumit returns.

"When you take Ryan out of our lineup, it's a different lineup," Russell said. "The balance of our lineup, who we're facing each night will come into play a lot. Whoever winds up in that four hole, it doesn't necessarily mean he's our four-hole hitter."

Chance to catch

With Ryan Doumit out with a broken wrist, the Pirates must turn to two inexperienced catchers:

Catcher ? ML service, ML games, ML at-bats

Jason Jaramillo ? 14 days, 3, 8

Robinzon Diaz ? 32 days, 3, 10

Note: Stats are through Monday.