David Ortiz out at least 1 week

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BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz received positive results from Tuesday's MRI, which showed no signs of a tear or a rupture in his right heel.

Ortiz will wear a walking boot on his right foot and will not be able to play for at least a week. He will travel to Miami on Wednesday for a second opinion before the Red Sox decide whether the slugger will be placed on the disabled list.

"We haven't decided, yet," Ortiz said when asked about the DL. "After my second opinion, we'll deal with that."

Ortiz suffered the injury in bizarre fashion while circling the bases on teammate Adrian Gonzalez's home run during Monday's game against the Chicago White Sox.

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Boston's lone All-Star, Ortiz said his heel is swollen and sore.

"It's not torn, which is good," Ortiz said. "I didn't feel a pop, which is the first thing the doctor asked me last night."

Ortiz missed nine games last season with bursitis in his right heel, but admitted Tuesday this injury is not related.

"This is different," he said. "It's the same area but different. There's more soreness."

Ortiz, who boasts a .316 average with 23 homers and 58 RBIs, said the last thing he wants is to miss any amount of time, especially with Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury recently returning to Boston's lineup.

"I want to be on the field," Ortiz said. "Right now, we're in a situation where everybody's coming back. It's crazy, man. It's like a rollercoaster. But we'll see and hopefully it doesn't take too long."

Until Monday night, Ortiz had avoided the slew of injuries that so far has sent 21 Red Sox players to the disabled list for 24 DL stints, costing the team almost a thousand games missed.

Ortiz has been the most consistent hitter this season for the Red Sox, who are four games into a 19-game run against American League postseason contenders Tampa Bay, Chicago, Toronto, Texas, New York and Detroit.

He leads the Red Sox in batting average (.316), home runs (23), RBI (58), runs scored (65) and walks (56). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the only player in the major leagues currently leading his team outright in all five categories.

With Ortiz out of the lineup for the foreseeable future, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said he plans on using different players at the DH spot.

"We can rotate guys through if we want," Valentine said. "I don't see one person sticking out as someone we are going to put there and say he's replacing David Ortiz as the designated hitter. You don't do that. I think we will get some contributions from people that will help us score funs."

Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava will serve as the club's DH on Tuesday night against the White Sox.

"I thought that getting someone that is a credible hitter and just slotting him into the No. 3 spot is least disruptive," explained Valentine when asked about his decision to go with Nava. "Daniel just came out of the lineup after hitting a game winning home run [in Tampa]."

Valentine also said there was some thought of putting Carl Crawford in the DH since he recently returned to the lineup and is still dealing with an elbow issue, but given that Tuesday will be Crawford's second game back, everyone thought it best that he plays left field.

"I talked to Carl about that and it's his second day back. I want him to get a flow of the game and DHing isn't a way to get a flow of the game."

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Joe McDonald

Reporter, ESPNBoston.com

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• Red Sox and Bruins beat reporter
• Covered Boston teams since 1992
• Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2010