At this point, I don’t even know what to say anymore. Like most of Braves Country, I’m at a loss for words. Every single day, it seems like the Braves are dealing with some type of new injury concern, and most of the time, it’s a serious issue.
The latest being Whit Merrifield, who left Friday’s game after fouling a ball off his foot. This comes just a couple of days after he was hit in the head with a pitch. Fortunately, he was able to avoid serious injury and return on Friday night. Further tests revealed a broken foot.
The initial thought was that he would be lost for the season, out six to eight weeks; however, it seems there’s been a strike of good luck, in a sense. Brian Snitker told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman on Friday evening that Merrifield received great news when he was examined by a specialist today who told them that Merrifield was not at risk of worsening the injury by continuing to play.
Essentially, it’s a pain tolerance thing for Merrifield, who feels like one of the gutsier players in the sport. Bowman noted that the Braves are hopeful the veteran will be able to return to the lineup next weekend when they face the Dodgers for a four-game set.
Since joining the Braves, Merrifield wasn’t performing like an All-Star or anything, but for a team struggling to find offensive consistency, his ability to get on base (.359 OBP) was a breath of fresh air.
Luke Williams is the immediate option off the bench if Merrifield is unable to go. Perhaps Atlanta gives Nacho Alvarez another shot and sees if he can provide a spark. They did acquire Cavan Biggio from the Giants, as noted by Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. None of it is inspiring, and it’s yet another blow to a team that just can’t catch a break.
However, the Braves won’t die. They’ve hung around this long, and I’m sure they’ll have a next-man-up mentality if Merrifield can’t strap it up. Hopefully, Ozzie Albies can return soon, but after the latest injury update, it no longer seems like a guarantee he’ll play again this season.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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