The Braves placed infielder Chris Johnson on the disabled list with a left hand fracture and called up touted prospect Mike Foltynewicz to start on Friday.
Johnson suffered the injury while sliding into second base on a steal attempt in the fourth inning. The fracture occurred on the outside of his hand when he jammed it in the dirt on the slide.
Johnson said he was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to check the ligaments between the fracture and should know more about his timetable to return then.
“It stinks,” Johnson said. “I want to be out there playing baseball.”
The Braves now have 13 position players and 12 pitchers on the roster. Johnson had been sharing time at third base with Alberto Callaspo and his injury will mean more playing time for Phil Gosselin.
Foltynewicz is set to make his first big-league start. The Braves acquired the right-hander from the Astros in January and gave him a chance to be the fifth starter but decided to send him to Gwinnett to work on his command after he was wild during spring training games.
Foltynewicz, 23, made 16 relief appearances for the Astros in 2014 while posting a 5.30 ERA with 14 strikeouts and seven walks. In four starts at Gwinnett he had a 2.08 ERA over 21 2./3 innings with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks.
“He’s earned the opportunity to come up and pitch,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I hope he doesn’t think it’s a one-deal tryout and that he’s got to pitch extremely well or get sent down. I think we’re going to be patient with him, but I’m excited. He’s earned it. Hopefully he can rattle off the rest of the year. “
Foltynewicz is 6-foot-4 with a hard fastball. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 2 Braves prospect.
