TAMPA—Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons made his spring debut on Thursday night against the New York Yankees after sitting out with a strained oblique.
Simmons was 1-for-3 while playing six innings and said he had no issues.
“It felt good,” Simmons said. “It was a little exciting. I had a little butterflies, a weird feeling, but it was fun. After my first at-bat it was back to competing again instead of worrying about how I was feeling. I forgot about everything and was just playing.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Simmons probably won’t play in Friday’s split-squad game against the Tigers at Victory Field.
“He told me he was ready to go on Monday and, my history with him, I gave him three more days,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a guy who will have a bone sticking out of his thigh and say, ‘I’m good.’”
Simmons, a two-time Gold Glove winner, deftly handled every chance in the field against the Yankees. Simmons ended the fourth inning by snagging Chase Headley’s sharp grounder and throwing to first base while on the run.
“I’ve been working (on defense),” Simmons said. “Hopefully it stays like that and improves, if anything.”
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