Philadelphia Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis has been hospitalized with a staph infection in his leg, the team confirmed Friday morning.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that Galvis is being treated with antibiotics, both orally and through an IV. He is being checked for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a staph bacteria resistant to many antibiotics.

Galvis will begin the season on the disabled list. It appears the Phillies will also open the season without backup first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf, who suffered an oblique injury Thursday and was scheduled to undergo tests Friday.

Galvis, 24, can play second base, third base and shortstop and is expected to be Philadelphia's main utility infield option this season.

He was at the center of some controversy recently when manager Ryne Sandberg put him in the lineup for three straight days at shortstop over Jimmy Rollins.

Sandberg praised Galvis for his "energy and his positive influence,'' but Galvis is having a difficult spring, with only four hits in 34 at-bats for a Grapefruit League batting average of .118. He's a .230 career hitter with a .644 OPS in 128 games with the Phillies.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.