Mallex Smith had his left arm in a cast from just below the elbow to the end of his broken thumb, but the Braves rookie was as upbeat and energetic as usual Thursday, his third day on the disabled list and first day back with teammates since getting hit by a fastball from Mets left-hander Anthony Bastardo.
“I’m always going to be happy. Baseball’s my job, so why wouldn’t I be happy?” said Smith, who’s expected to be out eight to 10 weeks. “Had the little misfire. Things happen, that’s sports. There’s nothing to really be sad about.”
When a reporter said it was actually Bastardo who had the misfire — with a 91-mph fastball — Smith laughed and agreed.
“Yes, he had a misfire, I caught the bad end of it,” said Smith, who had batted .272 with a .778 OPS in his last 42 games before the incident, and led the Braves with 14 stolen bases and a .349 average with runners in scoring position. “But, you know, all in all, it’s great. I’m still happy to be here. Glad to be around. There’s way worse places I could be, so I’m not sad at all.
“I’ll stay doing everything to keep my body in shape to be able to play.”
Surgery hasn’t been ruled out for Smith, 23, who’ll be reexamined by a Braves specialist in one week to see how the bone is healing.
“It’s not ruled out, but it’s not the go-to option,” Smith said of the surgery possibility. “When I get checked up on we’ll figure out where we go from there. But I’m still kind of, everything’s up in the air.”
He’s restricted physically until then, but hopes to get clearance to begin working out soon.
Braves manager Brian Snitker pointed out two positives: the injury didn’t involve his legs, so the speedy rookie should be able to begin running before too longer; and it was to his left thumb, so it won’t keep the right-hander from throwing and eventually doing one-handed swings.
“That might be wishful thinking on my part, I don’t know,” Snitker said. “He’s going to be reevaluated on Thursday (June 30) and see, I guess — that will determine what he can and can’t do down the road.”
Snitker said he thought the June 30 evaluation would also likely determine if surgery is recommended. In the meantime, he couldn’t ask for a better attitude from a player who just had his impressive rookie season interrupted.
“I had a long talk with him this afternoon,” Snitker said. “You can get down and feel sorry for yourself, or (view it as) it’s something that’s out of your control and make the best of it. I told him I want him here on the bench and watching the games and continuing to learn and talking to (hitting coach Kevin Seitzer) and being a part of it.
“He’s a big part of our team, and he’s a great teammate. He can strike out and the he comes back (to the dugout) and the first thing out of his mouth is he’s encouraging the next guy up there. So we just want him still in the flow, watching what’s going on, watching the opposition and continuing to learn as he’s in the dugout.”
A TV reporter didn’t see to be buying Smith’s optimism and upbeat demeanor, and asked him if it wasn’t a little frustrating watching games now just when things were going so well for the rookie.
“I’m happy,” Smith reiterated. “There’s so many other places that you could be right now. I’m still in the locker room, you guys still want to interview me (even though), like, I can’t do nothing to help the team right now. Why would I be sad? I can’t be sad. These things happen. This is what you signed up for.
“You go down sometimes. I’m blessed enough to know that, if you’re going to break something, that’s a great spot to break it, you know? It’ll heal, and when it heals I’ll be back. The rest of my body is fine, so I can’t (be upset). I’m in great spirits right now, everybody. No sad train for me.”
