Puig sidelined by staph infection.

Dodgers prospect Yasiel Puig developed a staph non-MRSA infection in the back of his right elbow, a team spokesperson said Tuesday.

A full recovery is expected to take 3 to 5 weeks, during which time Puig will remain at the team’s facility at Camelback until he regains full range and strength. That timeframe all but rules out Puig for the remainder of the Arizona Fall League schedule — the short-season league populated by prospects ends Nov. 15.

According to the spokesperson, the infection involved the bursa of the elbow but did not invade the elbow joint. He was initially treated with oral antibiotics that were unsuccessful. This necessitated a “wash out procedure” on Sept. 18 by Dr. Brian Shafer in Phoenix. Puig’s elbow was immobilized to assure the incision healed and remained closed. His elbow will remain immobilized until Oct. 15.

Non-MRSA is considered a less serious strain of the Staphylococcus bacteria than the antibiotic-resistant MRSA (Staphylococcus aureus).

Puig defected from Cuba and signed a 7-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers in June. He batted .400 (12 for 30) in nine games with the AZL Dodgers and .327 (17 for 52) in 14 games with the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.