The Atlanta Braves have faced a challenging season with injuries affecting key players like Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider, who are both out for the year. Michael Harris II and Max Fried have also sustained injuries that will keep them sidelined for the foreseeable future. The situation worsened on Sunday when second baseman Ozzie Albies left the game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a left wrist fracture, sidelining him for approximately eight weeks.
In response, the Braves have signed former Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals utilityman Whit Merrifield. Recently released by the Phillies, Merrifield quickly secured a major league contract with Atlanta to fill the void left by Albies.
However, Merrifield’s first day with the Braves came with an injury scare. Multiple reporters noted that Merrifield took a baseball off one of the fingers on his throwing hand while fielding grounders. The team’s training staff examined him to ensure there was no structural damage.
Whit Merrifield Suffers Injury Scare on First Day with Braves
Manager Brian Snitker’s reaction, as quoted by The Athletic’s David O’Brien, was, “You can’t make it up…this year is something else.” This sentiment reflects the Braves’ ongoing struggle with injury luck this season.
Merrifield struggled with the Phillies this season after signing a one-year deal, recording a .199 batting average, a .277 on-base percentage, and a .295 slugging percentage in 53 games. He hit three home runs, drove in 11 runs, scored 21 runs, and had 31 hits in 156 at-bats. This performance was a significant drop from his previous season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he made the All-Star team and finished with a .272/.318/.382 slash line.
Despite Merrifield’s recent struggles, the Braves are known for maximizing their players’ potential. It remains to be seen whether Merrifield’s injury is serious, short-term, or nothing to worry about. The Braves and their fans will be hoping for a quick recovery and a return to form for Merrifield as they navigate this injury-riddled season.
Leave a Reply