LAKELAND, Fla. – Joey Terdoslavich’s sore wrist has been slow to heal, and the timing couldn’t have been much worse for a hitter trying to win a spot on the Braves’ opening day roster.
Terdoslavich, a corner outfielder/first baseman, was one of the Braves’ most productive hitters this spring before injuring his wrist while diving to make an unassisted double play March 21 against the Cardinals. He hasn’t played since and got an injection in the wrist during the weekend to help relieve inflammation so he can resume playing.
“Hopefully tomorrow,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of a possible return date for Terdsoslavich, who was competing with Kelly Johnson and others for a bench job.
Terdsoslavich was 10-for-36 (.278) with what was then a team-high seven extra-base hits (six doubles) before he got hurt. At the time he said he expected to be back in the lineup after missing a couple of games. But the soreness and stiffness lingered and Terdoslavich got an injection after having the wrist examined again.
What initially was thought to be minor wrist soreness that wouldn’t sideline Joey Terdoslavich for more than a day or two, has instead kept him out of action during the stretch drive of spring training, just as Johnson has heated up at the plate.
Johnson had 10 hits (six extra-base hits) and six walks in his past 25 plate appearances before Monday, raising his average to .273 with a .396 OBP and .523 slugging percentage in 18 games.
