BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates newcomer Eric Hinske has already found his way to the training room.

Hinske was scratched from the lineup about an hour prior to Friday's game because of a left rib-cage contusion. He suffered the injury when he ran into the outfield wall on Wednesday.

Manager John Russell characterized Hinske's status as day-to-day, and he said that sitting the veteran infielder/outfielder is more for precautionary reasons than out of necessity.

"He just feels it a little bit and we didn't want to push it," Russell said. "He could play with it, but I told him I don't want it to linger for a week or two before it goes away. I'd rather get it out of there [and] healed pretty quick."

Hinske said he felt a little discomfort playing Thursday, but that it was while taking swings early Friday that he began to feel worse. Hinske estimated that he could be out for up to a week, but likely no more.

"I felt it during BP, and I was like, 'What am I doing?'" Hinske said, knowing that there was no reason not to be cautious at this point in Spring Training. "Anytime you feel a something in there, it can last all year [if not taken care of]."

Pedro Alvarez took Hinske's place as Friday's designated hitter in the lineup and finished 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.