Cedar Rapids Washington junior A.J. Puk will miss an extended period of the baseball season with a hairline fracture in his right thumb.

"He's out six weeks," Washington Coach Tony Lombardi told the Metro Sports Report Wednesday.

The injury occurred during a play last week against Jefferson when Puk, who is Washington's first baseman, had contact with a J-Hawk runner on an errant throw.

Puk is hitting .455 for the Warriors (10 for 22) in nine games with three doubles, two triples, one homer and four RBIs. He did not play in Monday night's doubleheader against Xavier due to the injury, but was at the ballpark.

Puk also has battled a tender left elbow this season, limiting him to only two pitching performances for a total of four innings. He struck out seven batters in those four innings, but has a high earned run average of 8.75.

Puk has committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida.