Braves’ Inciarte to start ‘amping up’ at North Port facility

Ender David Inciarte was born Oct. 29, 1990 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Inciarte made his major league debut May 2, 2014. Inciarte's first big-league hit was a single off Dale Thayer in the ninth inning of his debut. Inciarte finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014. Inciarte led the NL in at-bats in 2017, with 662, which was 140 more than his previous career high. Inciarte won Gold Gloves in 2016 and 2017. The Braves acquired Inciarte from the Diamondbacks, with Dansby Swanson, fo

Sidelined for more than a month with a lower back injury, Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte will work out at the team’s new training facility in North Port, Fla., beginning Thursday. No timetable has been set for his return to big-league action.

He’ll “start amping up things” at North Port, Braves manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. “He can partake in all the drills and … get his body back ready to start playing.”

When he’s ready, Inciarte will play some minor-league games on a rehabilitation assignment, likely for Triple-A Gwinnett.

A National League All-Star in 2017 and a Gold Glove award winner each of the past three seasons, Inciarte was the Braves’ starting center fielder before he was placed on the injured list May 15 with what the team called a lumbar strain. He was hitting .218 through 40 games this season.

When Inciarte went on the IL, Ronald Acuna moved from left field to center, and rookie Austin Riley took over in left. Riley’s bat has entrenched him in the lineup.