DENVER – New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey was named Thursday as the winner of the Branch Rickey Award in recognition of his work distributing baseball equipment and medical supplies in Central and South America.

Created by the Rotary Club of Denver, the award honors individuals in baseball who contribute to their communities and are strong role models.

Each year, teams nominate a player, coach or executive, active or retired, for the award, named in honor of the late baseball executive known for breaking baseball’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson.

Dickey co-founded a charity that distributes baseball equipment and medical supplies around the world. In January he helped raise money for an organization that rescues young women from forced prostitution in India.

RANGERS: Center fielder Josh Hamilton was out of the starting lineup because of a knee injury.

Hamilton received an injection for his sore left knee Wednesday night. He didn’t start against Cleveland and was expected to return Friday night against Seattle.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre wasn’t in the original lineup but later was listed as the designated hitter. He said he convinced Manager Ron Washington that he could play.

Beltre strained his left shoulder while diving to stop a grounder Wednesday night and an MRI revealed slight inflammation.

TWINS: Catcher Joe Mauer wasn’t in the lineup for the third straight night against Kansas City due to back spasms.

Drew Butera started at catcher for the second straight game. Mauer’s back tightened up before batting practice Tuesday.

Mauer, who appeared in just 82 games last season because of various ailments, played in 131 of a possible 143 games, splitting his time among catcher, DH and first base. He is hitting .319 with nine homers and 76 RBI.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Mauer feels better but isn’t ready to return.

TIGERS: Detroit placed outfielder Ryan Raburn on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps.

Raburn only played in three games since missing more than a month with a right thumb problem.

Manager Jim Leyland had said repeatedly throughout Detroit’s series with the Chicago White Sox that Raburn was being held out of the lineup because he looked “sluggish.” Raburn is hitting .171 with one homer and 12 RBI in 205 at-bats. The move is retroactive to Tuesday.

INDIANS: Center fielder Michael Brantley was scratched from the lineup with a sore left pectoral muscle and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera didn’t start for a fourth straight game because of a sore right wrist.

Brantley was originally batting cleanup against Texas. But Cleveland scratched him after batting practice. Ezequiel Carrera has replaced Brantley in the lineup.

The switch-hitting Cabrera hasn’t tried to bat left-handed. Manager Manny Acta said Cabrera will be examined Friday when the team returns to Cleveland.