Just a week after watching Jason Heyward break his jaw after taking a fastball to his face, the Braves drew in a collective breath when Justin Upton got hit in the left hand by a 92 mph Ubaldo Jimenez fastball Thursday night. But X-rays were negative and the Braves avoided coping with another long-term injury.
Upton was diagnosed with a contusion and is considered day-to-day. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he would rest Upton Friday against the Marlins and then see if he’s ready to get back in the lineup.
“Right now I’m thinking I’m just going to give him tomorrow off and go from there,” Gonzalez said. “But yeah I’m thinking just one.”
Upton took the pitch to the back of the left hand with two outs in the fifth inning.
“Hands are fragile, and any time you get hit on it you definitely worry a little bit,” Upton said. “(But) nothing is going on there, so it’s good.”
Braves assistant trainer Jim Lovell had run onto the field to examine Upton. He and Upton then started toward the Braves dugout before Upton turned toward first base. Gonzalez and everybody watching assumed that meant Upton was OK and wanted to stay in the game. Gonzalez came out to first base and found out otherwise.
“Justin goes ‘I don’t know the rule; I better touch first,’” said Gonzalez, who had cracked a joke that made Upton smile. “I said ‘I thought you were coming out.’ He said ‘Well we didn’t know if we had to touch first or not.’ I said ‘Well not both of you guys.’”
Upton had gone 2-for-2 with a pair of singles off Jimenez.
When asked how long he might be out, Upton said: “I don’t know. Whenever it feels better, I’m ready to go.”
