Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt had his left hand and lower arm in a black leather brace Monday to immobilize the thumb he hurt Sunday, but the apparatus looked a bit more serious than the injury was believed to be.
“Just got to wait a few days and see how it develops,” he said in the visitor’s clubhouse before Monday night’s series opener against the New York Mets. “X-rays came up negative, so hopefully it’s nothing serious.”
Bethancourt was injured on a tag play in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 2-1 win against the Phillies. Right fielder Todd Cunningham’s throw to the plate was off target and Bethancourt’s tag was late on Aaron Altherr.
“He says he’s feeling the same as he did yesterday when he came out (of the game),” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who didn’t think the injury was serious. “I saw it on video this afternoon, he hit (the runner) right on the hip when he slid by. Just jammed him a little.”
Bethancourt said, “When he slid he just took my hand with it. When you get those plays where you’ve got to go (tag) the runner, you’ve got to expect anything to happen. That’s what catchers do. It’s possible to get hurt doing one of those plays trying to win the ballgame. It hurt, the trainer came, and I couldn’t continue because I was in pain.”
