An MRI administered Thursday revealed no significant damage in Jason Heyward’s right shoulder, just some inflammation in his rotator cuff. Heyward received a cortisone shot Thursday afternoon and is expected to be out of the lineup for another couple of days as the medicine takes effect.
“It’s not serious,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “... Guys have things that are sore all the time, and they play with them, just like he has, and it hasn’t been an issue. And it gets to a point where it’s a little bit over that line, and then you start feeling like it’s affecting your performance. I think he got to that point this week.”
Heyward is 2-for-28 with 13 strikeouts in May, lowering his season average to .220. He was available only to pinch run Thursday night against the Nationals.
Heyward left Tuesday night’s game with numbness in his right hand and forearm, related to pain he had felt in his shoulder off and on since one particular swing in spring training.
The numbness had subsided by Wednesday morning, but Heyward said he had consistent pain throughout the day Thursday. “It’s just uncomfortable today,” he said.
Heyward will need a couple of days before he can swing the bat to test his shoulder, which is his non-throwing shoulder. So it’s uncertain if he will be back in the lineup before the end of this weekend’s series against the Phillies.
Proctor set for return
The Braves will get some bullpen help Sunday when Scott Proctor arrives from Triple-A Gwinnett, where the veteran has finally regained his form after two elbow surgeries.
Proctor has a 1.06 ERA and three saves in 14 appearances for Gwinnett, recording 24 strikeouts in 17 innings while allowing just 10 hits and five walks.
The 34-year-old right-hander was released by the Braves at the end of spring training, then re-signed April 3 to a minor league contract. Because he was released, the Braves couldn’t add him to their major league roster until May 15.
When Proctor re-signed, it was with an agreement that if another team was interested in adding Proctor to its major league roster before May 15, the Braves would work out a trade to let him go.
He has pitched so well at Gwinnett that at least two major league teams called. The Braves told Proctor they would work out a deal if he wanted to go, but also assured him that they would bring him to the majors May 15 if he chose to stay. Proctor decided to stay with the Braves.
Patience with Kimbrel
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated Thursday the Braves have no immediate plans to relieve rookie Craig Kimbrel of his closing duties in favor of set-up man Jonny Venters or for the two to share them.
Kimbrel blew his third save in his past seven opportunities Wednesday night against the Nationals, losing a 3-1 lead in the ninth in an eventual 7-3 loss in extra innings.
“He’s got plenty of stuff to do it,” Gonzalez said. “He’s done it before in the minor leagues. It’s just one of those things he’s just going to have to experience.”
Since blowing his first save as a major leaguer April 21 at Los Angeles, Kimbrel is 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA, allowing five runs in 10 2/3 innings. To that point, he had converted his first four saves this season.
Venters, meanwhile, is 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA, allowing two earned runs in 20 2/3 innings.
But Gonzalez doesn’t want to shake the confidence of a 22-year-old who figures to be the Braves’ closer for the foreseeable future.
“When you’re dealing with athletes and young athletes, you can scar them, you can hurt them, you can make them lose confidence,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the fine line about making decisions or making knee-jerk reactions about something.”
