PHILADELPHIA — As tempting as it might be, the Braves resisted the urge to call up Martin Prado early from his minor league rehabilitation assignment with word that Chipper Jones was headed for the DL and arthroscopic surgery Saturday.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it crossed his mind, but the Braves don’t want to rush Prado’s return from staph-infection surgery.
“We talked about that, bringing him back for two days,” Gonzalez said. “But we don’t want to rush him and then he gets hurt.”
The plan is for Prado to continue his minor league rehabilitation with Triple-A Gwinnett until Sunday and then to join Double-A Mississippi in Mobile to play Monday.
He’ll participate in a Braves’ team workout Thursday during the All-Star break, and if all goes well, he’ll be activated for the Nationals series after the All-Star break.
Prado will play third base the rest of his rehab assignment with an eye toward filling in for Jones at third after the break. Prado had played his usual left field in the second game of his rehab assignment and third base on Friday night and one game of a doubleheader Saturday. He was the designated hitter in his first rehab game.
Prado has played eight games at third base for the Braves this season and 51 games in left field. Nate McLouth can continue to play left field and Prado third until Jones returns from right knee surgery in two to three weeks.
Gonzalez bats second
Gonzalez has drawn some criticism for continuing to bat the struggling Alex Gonzalez in the No. 2 hole. Gonzalez hit second Saturday for the sixth consecutive game and seventh of eight.
Fredi Gonzalez said he was doing it to give the Braves’ lineup the same feel it would have when Prado returns and hits in the No. 2 spot.
“I was trying to work the lineup [so] when Prado got back, that’s where we’d slide him into is the second spot,” Gonzalez said. “So just kind of keep it there just to see how that lineup works for a couple games.”
Even if Gonzalez wanted to move Jason Heyward up to the No. 2 spot now, in Jones’ absence that would be difficult because it would put left-handers in the first four spots in the order: Jordan Schafer, Heyward, Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman.
Hot-hitting Hicks
The Braves recalled Brandon Hicks from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday to take Jones’ spot on the roster. This is the third major league stint this season for Hicks, who has hit .267 with 14 home runs and 30 RBIs for Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
He was on pace for his most home runs since hitting 19 in 93 games for Single-A Myrtle Beach in 2008. He had four home runs and nine RBIs in his previous 10 games, while going 10-for-32 (.313).
“I’m hitting the pitches that I want to hit instead of hitting the pitcher’s pitches,” Hicks said. “I’m getting myself in good hitting counts and being able to drive the ball.”
Hicks didn’t have much time to get re-acclimated to the major leagues. He arrived at Citizens Bank Park about two hours before first pitch. He entered the game in the eighth inning to pinch hit against Cliff Lee and struck out looking.
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