NEW YORK -- New York Yankees first baseman Nick Johnson will miss four-to-six weeks with a stress fracture in his right hand, the latest injury in his young career.

"It's very frustrating," Johnson said before Friday's game against the Texas Rangers. "I thought I would be back in a couple of days. That's not the case. It's going to be awhile. I'm just going to try to get it right."

Johnson said he hurt himself on a foul ball in the ninth inning Wednesday night. He then grounded out, ending a loss to the Angels.

Johnson pulled himself out of Thursday's game and had tests Friday, which showed a stress fracture in the third metacarpal bone in his right hand. He will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

"He's down. No question he's down," manager Joe Torre said. "He was pretty excited with how he was helping us."

The 24-year-old Johnson has been slowed by hand and wrist injuries in recent years. He missed time in spring training because of a sprained left thumb and was on the disabled list last August with a sprained left wrist.

In 2000, Johnson was sidelined for the whole season because of an injured right hand.

"I'm pretty upset," he said. "It's part of the game. I'm going to try to strengthen my hand and really concentrate on it. It's going to be my main concern."

Johnson is hitting .308 with five home runs and 18 RBI, and leads the AL with 33 walks. He's made 23 starts at first base and 10 at designated hitter.

"It's frustrating because he has so much ability," general manager Brian Cashman said. "He's obviously shown to this point this year what he's capable of doing."

Todd Zeile took Johnson's place at first base on Friday night against the Angels. It was Zeile's second start of the season at first base, and slumping Jason Giambi remained as the DH.

Giambi could return to the field Saturday and Zeile and Bubba Trammell will share the DH role.

"With Todd Zeile, we have a guy who has played regularly," Torre said. "He's not a platoon player. We're not in trouble looking for somebody. The advantage of signing Todd was he we was a regular player and an insurance policy. We're cashing in on that policy now."

Reliever Jason Anderson will be called up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday to replace Johnson. Anderson, who started the year in the majors, has allowed no runs in 6 2/3 innings in the minors.

Reliever Steve Karsay, out all season because of an injured right shoulder, will see Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday, after having a setback in his rehab this week.

"Right now, we can't count on him at this stage," Cashman said. "Surgery is definitely a possibility."