Johan Camargo could come off the disabled list and join the Braves for their weekend series in chilly Colorado, but first he’ll probably play a game or two in the Florida warmth.
Camargo was set to be the Braves’ opening-day third baseman before he strained an oblique (side) muscle March 13 during a spring-training game. He hasn’t played a game since then and will play at least one game for high Single-A Florida, which opens its season Thursday.
Camargo can be activated Friday, but he might play a couple of games for Florida before he joins the Braves on a three-city, nine-game trip that starts Friday in Colorado and includes series at Washington and Chicago.
“Play nine innings a time or two,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “If something happened and we had to have him, he could come back tomorrow probably and be healthy. It’s just more about playing in a live game.”
The Braves don’t want to rush Camargo and have gotten solid production in the interim from end-of-spring-training signee Ryan Flaherty, a veteran utility man who was 8-for-16 with three doubles in four starts at third base before Tuesday.
“He hasn’t played nine innings,” Snitker said of Camargo, who last played nine innings during winter ball in the Dominican Republic, where he excelled this offseason. “I’d like to see him play a couple of games (at Florida). And I think it’d be good for him, just game-type situations, regardless if it’s the minor leagues. The lights are on, timing and just the fatigue of the ninth innings and all that, I think he needs to do that first.
“He’s probably ready to go nine innings now. If he stayed in Florida, they open Thursday night and he’d be ready to play nine. He’s played five (innings), so he’d be ready to go nine innings Thursday. He feels good and all that, he just hasn’t had real games. Been all practice pretty much. I’d like for him to play a couple of real games.”
