The Braves are cautiously optimistic about getting Freddie Freeman back before too much longer, but their top hitter isn’t going to be ready to come off the 15-day disabled list this weekend and his return could be closer to or even after the July 13-16 All-Star break.
Freeman is recovering from a bone bruise in his right wrist and received a platelet-rich plasma injection last week in Atlanta to hasten the healing process.
Tuesday’s series opener against the Nationals was his ninth consecutive game missed, and manager Fredi Gonzalez said the Braves don’t expect the big first baseman to be back Friday, the day he’s eligible to come off the DL.
“We were hoping we could get him shortly after the 15 days, but I think it’s going to be a little longer than that,” Gonzlalez said. “Not quite sure how much longer. We had our fingers crossed and were optimistic to get him (then or soon after), but I think it’s going to be little longer.”
Asked if that might be the All-Star break, Gonzalez said, “Yeah. When I say a little bit longer, I don’t know exactly how much longer. Can’t say five days, four days, but I think it’s going to be little bit longer than that. It’s just not improving. They’ve tried a little different treatments on it. Hopefully one of those treatments works and get him going.”
Before Tuesday’s series opener against the Nationals, the Braves had batted just .235 with three homers and 21 total runs in 10 games since Freeman left the lineup. They were 4-6 in that period despite a tidy 2.83 ERA.
In their last 18 games with Freeman left the lineup, the Braves hit .296 with 96 runs and 13 homers while going 9-9 with a 4.25 ERA. In those 18 games, Freeman hit .329 (23-for-70) with four doubles, six homers, 15 runs, 17 RBIs, a .392 OBP and .643 slugging percentage.
“He is frustrated,” Gonzalez said. “He wants to get on the field, but he understands this is going to take a little time. He’s been great, visiting with the doctor and getting his treatment. He hasn’t missed one. He’s pushing all he can to try to get himself back on the field.”
An MRI exam of Freeman’s wrist a week ago showed no broken bones, but the Braves decided to DL him and have him stay home while the team traveled to Washington and Pittsburgh, a trip that included five losses in six games. His DL assignment was retroactive to June 18, the day after Freeman’s last game, when he was forced from the lineup after the pain in his wrist increased.
He injured the wrist initially on a swing during a June 13 game at New York, but Freeman didn’t disclose the severity of the injury and stayed in the lineup for four more games before coming out in the seventh inning of a June 17 game against the Red Sox.
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