Braves catcher Evan Gattis pinch hit against the Mets on Saturday but it could be some time before he’s ready to start as he recovers from illness related to a kidney stone.
Gattis grounded out as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning of the 4-2 loss to the Mets. He hadn’t played since falling ill while catching a game at Miami on Sept. 7.
“It’s awesome to get some activity, take some swings and feel like a baseball player again,” Gattis said before the game.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said the plan is to get Gattis some at-bats off the bench for now. Gonzalez said the Braves will have Gattis catch some bullpen sessions to work him back into game shape before eventually having him catch a few live innings.
If all goes well, Gattis eventually will catch a full game.
“It’s just a matter of when are we going to stick him in there,” Gonzalez said. “The thing that scares you is 11 days without playing. I will find a spot to get him in there as a pinch hitter at some point and then work him in as a catcher someplace and get him some innings. It’s a tough spot because you don’t want to run him in there and catch nine without.”
Gattis was diagnosed with strep throat when he got sick. After his condition didn’t improve on the road trip, Gattis had tests that were inconclusive. He saw a specialist when the team returned to Atlanta this week and had more tests, which revealed the kidney stone.
Gattis said he became worried about his condition when doctors couldn’t give him answers. He said it was a relief when he finally got a definitive diagnosis.
“Walking around with pain and not knowing was kind of the worst part,” Gattis said. “So it’s definitely good to get it figured out.”
Gattis said doctors told him he may or may not pass the stone. He said he last felt pain a couple days ago while in bed.
The chances of forming a kidney stone are higher if relatives have them but Gattis said he wasn’t aware of a history of them in his family.
