CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Indians designated hitter Ellis Burks may need surgery after tests found a pinched nerve in his right elbow caused muscle degeneration in his hand.

	Ellis Burks Designated Httr Cleveland Indians Profile
	2003 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 55 6 28 27 1 .258

The club placed Burks on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, and said the 38-year-old will likely undergo surgery.

Burks, who leads Cleveland with 28 RBI, has been bothered by numbness and weakness in his hand recently. He had tests Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

The club said an MRI test revealed Burks has a pinched ulnar nerve in his elbow, which caused the deterioration in his right hand.

To fill Burks' roster spot, the Indians recalled outfielder Coco Crisp from Triple-A Buffalo. Crisp was batting .360 with the Bisons and was among the International League leaders in eight offensive categories.

This is Burks' 10th career trip to the disabled list in 16 seasons. Last year, he batted .301 with 32 homers and 91 RBI and was named the AL's top DH.

Burks, who is signed through this season with the Indians holding an option for 2004, was batting .179 (10-for-56) since May 19.

The Indians had been waiting for the right time to bring up Crisp, and Burks' injury provided them with one.

The 23-year-old Crisp has been tearing up Triple-A pitching since Opening Day. He was ranked first in hits (81) and runs (42), second in on-base percentage (.434), third in average (.360) and fourth in steals (20).

Crisp was acquired from St. Louis in July as the player to be named in the deal that sent pitcher Chuck Finley to the Cardinals. In 32 games with the Indians, he batted .260 with one homer and nine RBI.