The Braves announced plans after Monday’s game to place outfielder Reed Johnson on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left Achilles and they have recalled outfielder Todd Cunningham from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Johnson was injured while running out a groundball on Sunday night against the Cardinals. The Braves had hoped to play it day-by-day with Johnson. Instead he becomes the third Braves outfielder on the disabled list, along with B.J. Upton and Jordan Schafer, and the fourth Braves outfielder injured in just over the past two weeks.
Jason Heyward (hamstring) and Justin Upton (calf) both missed time in and around the All-Star break and have since returned. B.J. Upton (adductor muscle) and Schafer (stress fracture in ankle) are close to heading out on minor league rehabilitation assignments, likely later this week.
This is the first call-up for Cunningham, the Braves second round pick in 2010 of out of Jacksonville State. Cunningham was hitting .279 in 99 games for Gwinnett.
Cunningham was named the Braves organizational player of the year in 2012 after hitting .309 in Double-A Mississippi and entered this season rated the 12th best Braves prospect by Baseball America, known for his ability to hit for average and for his outfield defense.
