Braves manager Brian Snitker said third baseman Adonis Garcia is scheduled to spend a few days on a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett before he will be activated from the disabled list.
Garcia has been on the 10-day DL since May 16 because of left Achilles tendinitis. He’s eligible to be added to the active roster Friday, but Snitker said Garcia would play for Gwinnett while the Braves go to San Francisco on Friday to begin a nine-game trip.
“He plays and roughs it up and the next day (soreness) and all of that kind of stuff,” Snitker said Wednesday. “So we just make sure he’s good when he comes back. Which I think he (will) be but coming out of the box, first-step reaction and stuff like that (need to be tested). It’s one of them injuries that can bite you so I just want to make sure.”
Snitker said Garcia could rejoin the Braves early next week.
Garcia was the everyday third baseman when he went on the disabled list. The Braves are considering a handful of roster options for when he’s ready to return.
Rookie Rio Ruiz has started five of nine games there since with Jace Peterson getting two starts (Johan Carmago, since sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett, has one).
The Braves could send rookie Rio Ruiz back to Gwinnett or platoon Ruiz (who bats lefty) with Garcia (who hits right-handed). Doing so likely would mean designating Emilio Bonifacio for assignment, though Snitker has said the Braves also could drop a pitcher from the eight-man bullpen and keep four bench players instead of three.
