The Atlanta Braves responded to Ozzie Albies’ injury on Monday by promoting Nacho Alvarez Jr. from Triple-A Gwinnett and signing veteran Whit Merrifield.
Merrifield, however, swiftly joined Atlanta’s long list of injured players after injuring his finger during infield practice. X-rays were negative, thus he is classed as day-to-day.
Braves manager Brian Snitker reacted on the issue, stating, “You can’t make this up.”
Albies broke his left wrist in Sunday’s 6-2 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals and is likely to miss around eight weeks. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday, but the team believes he does not require surgery.
“They casted him up and it’s clean,” Snitker said. To make room for Merrifield on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated outfielder Forrest Wall for assignment and sent outfielder Eli White to Triple-A Gwinnett following Sunday’s game.
Merrifield, who was released by Philadelphia on July 12, brings vital experience at second base as the Braves seek to fill in for Albies for the remainder of the regular season.
Even before Merrifield’s injury, Alvarez was scheduled to start at second base and bat second. “Put him in with the guys,” Snitker remarked. “His swing has been hot, so why not?”
Following Albies’ wrist injury, the Atlanta Braves bring up Nacho Alvarez Jr. and add veteran Whit Merrifield to the roster.
Following the departure of…, the Atlanta Braves have reached an agreement to add another sensational 5 star to their roster.
Alvarez, a fifth-round pick in 2022, batted.336 with seven home runs in 28 games after being promoted to Gwinnett on June 12.
“Pretty much two years after I got drafted, I’m here now,” Alvarez said, explaining his emotional reaction to the news of his promotion to the majors, which included “probably 10 minutes of straight crying” on the phone with his parents.
Alvarez, who is from Fontana, California, stated that the only difficulty was that his parents’ early Monday trip to Atlanta was canceled, and they were attempting to find another flight to see him make his MLB debut.
Alvarez mostly played shortstop in the minors, but he has played second base since high school and anticipates a simple adjustment.
“Ultimately, it’s just baseball,” Alvarez explained. Merrifield, age 35, batted.199 in 53 games for the Phillies this season, including starts at left field, second base, and third base.
The Braves will pay Merrifield $278,495, a prorated portion of the $740,000 MLB minimum wage. The Phillies are liable for the remaining $7 million salary and a $1 million buyout of his 2025 option.
In 2021, the Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia had 43 starts at second base. The Braves value Arcia’s defensive talents at shortstop while looking for replacements for Albies. Merrifield might act as insurance if Alvarez has trouble adjusting.
Albies hurt his wrist while attempting to field a throw during Michael Siani’s steal of second base in the ninth inning on Sunday. Siani’s slide into Albies had the infielder twist his glove hand at an unnatural angle.
Zack Short replaced Albies in Sunday’s game. Albies is Atlanta’s third starting position player to miss significant time due to injury. Ronald Acuña Jr., the reigning NL MVP, suffered a season-ending knee injury in May.
Center fielder Michael Harris II, who took over as leadoff hitter following Acuña’s injury, was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain on June 14 and has yet to begin rehab.
Earlier Sunday, All-Star left-hander Max Fried was placed on the 15-day IL for forearm neuritis, a type of nerve inflammation, with the move retroactive to Thursday. Spencer Strider, an ace right-hander, had Tommy John surgery in April, which ended his season.
“It’s been very tough,” Snitker said of the Braves’ injury issues. They are now ranked second in the NL East, having won the division title for the previous six years. “This year has been quite the ride…” It is never straightforward. You must conquer hardship on a regular basis.
Avatar By C.
