Both B.J. Upton and Jordan Schafer took key steps in their recoveries from injury Friday with some running on the field before batting practice.
Upton did his first sprinting and cutting to test his right adductor (groin) muscle and came away pleased. Schafer did his first jogging on his right ankle since he was diagnosed with a stress fracture.
Upton is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday but will need at least a few more days of getting his legs back in shape before heading out on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
“It’s night and day from what it was a couple weeks ago, even a couple days ago, it’s coming along well,” Upton said. “I don’t see it being too much longer. Hopefully by the beginning of next week maybe I can come back for the tail end of the series (vs. Colorado) or definitely on the road trip. We’ll see how it plays out.”
Schafer is just past four weeks into his recovery after fouling a ball off his right ankle on June 26 in Kansas City. He said his ankle was feeling a lot better just walking around and he proved it when he ran with his full weight on his ankle after a couple of days of doing therapy while submerged in chest-high water.
“He said other than his legs being a little (like) jelly he felt good,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “So that’s a good sign also.”
Minor leaguer suspended
Braves minor league right-hander Humberto Carpio was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Stanozolol, MLB announced. He was pitching for the Braves in the Dominican Summer League.
