TAMPA—Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt left Thursday's game after taking a batted ball to the knee but said the team is just being cautious.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Bethancourt went to the ground after Yankees third baseman Chase Headley fouled off a ball that hit the top of Bethancourt’s left knee. Bethancourt stayed in the game and doubled in the fifth inning before being replaced by pinch runner Braeden Schlehuber.
“It’s just a hit,” Bethancourt said. “It’s just spring training. You don’t want anything to get worse. I’m OK. I didn’t want to come out after I got hit. They took me out for protection. It does hurt. It’s part of the game. I’m a catcher. I’m used to getting hit all the time.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he hadn’t planned to play Bethancourt in Friday’s split-squad game against the Tigers because it’s a day game following a night game.
