BOSTON -- Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, out with bursitis in his right heel, said Wednesday he likely will miss a week of action.
Manager Terry Francona indicated Tuesday night that although Ortiz won't be placed on the disabled list, the DH will miss some time and is required to wear a walking boot.
"I should just chill, you know, rest," Ortiz said Wednesday before the Red Sox took on the Rays at Fenway Park. "I got this (walking) boot you guys saw me wearing; just got to wear it for a few days."
Ortiz said he hoped to return to the lineup before the end of the team's upcoming road trip to Kansas City and Texas.
"I think I should be playing by the end of the road trip, hopefully," Ortiz said. "Looking forward to that."
Ortiz's heel has been bothering him for a while, but he admitted it really started to hurt Sunday in Seattle. He missed both games of a doubleheader Tuesday and was out of Wednesday's lineup, as well.
"It's been bothering me for a little while, but the last game we played in Seattle, that was when I really started feeling it," Ortiz said. "I was limping really bad, so I finally went to the doctor and he checked me out. ... The day off was all right, but yesterday I couldn't run."
Bursitis refers to an inflamed bursal sac, which is filled with fluid and acts to lubricate and reduce the friction between muscles and tendons. When there is bursitis in the foot, it usually occurs in the bursa sac located between the Achilles tendon and heel bone. The sac protects the tendon from the pressure of the heel bone rubbing against it.
"It's not like I have any Achilles problem or anything," Ortiz said. "It's just aggravation from running and doing other kinds of stuff."
Ortiz is batting .300 with 24 homers and 79 RBIs this season.
Joe McDonald covers the Red Sox for ESPNBoston.com. Student intern Darren Hartwell contributed to this report.