The Braves still can’t project shortstop Dansby Swanson’s return, though they’re leaving open the possibility of him joining the team in Miami this weekend.
Swanson, 25, injured his heel July 23 in a loss to the Royals. He’s been sidelined since, and despite the Braves’ optimism that he would return last weekend, the team can’t confidently say when its breakout shortstop will be back.
“I was more hopeful the IL stint would be overkill, that he’d be back sooner,” manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s a bruise, a significant one. It just didn’t go as quick as I’d hoped. We’ll keep treating him and going day-to-day with it. Hopefully sooner rather than later he gets back out there.”
That said, the Braves aren’t ruling out Swanson returning during the Miami series, which begins Thursday in South Florida. But he’ll play at least one rehab game in the minors before rejoining the club, which does make a weekend return seem more unlikely.
“I really don’t know,” Snitker said. “We’ll see where he’s at. I think he could be a possibility (for Miami) if things clear up. He’s probably going to have to go out and play at least one game before we get him back. It’s a day-to-day thing, how he responds to treatments.”
Swanson is enjoying the best offensive season of his young career, hitting .265 with 17 homers (fourth most on the team) and 57 RBIs. Johan Camargo has mightily struggled filling in at shortstop, and Charlie Culberson was given the start there Tuesday in Minnesota.
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