Alex Rios has fractured left hand, placed on 15-day DL

Royals right fielder Alex Rios is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left hand in Monday's game against the Twins.

The Royals placed Rios on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal. The 12-year veteran was hit on the hand by J.R. Graham's first pitch in the eighth inning Monday.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore told the Kansas City Star that the club would have a better idea on Rios' possible return date after the next week, when Rios will try to rehabilitate the injury.

"I think it would be a little careless to put six weeks on it," Moore told the newspaper. "And maybe a little premature to be two to three weeks on it. I think it's somewhere in between."

The Royals will make a corresponding roster move before Wednesday's game in Minnesota.

Moore said speedy outfielder Jarrod Dyson and rookie Paulo Orlando likely will split time in right field during Rios' absence.

Rios, 34, is batting .321 with a home run and eight RBIs this season for the defending AL champion Royals, who are off to a 7-0 start.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.