The Braves were pleased that a second, more advanced MRI on slugger Jason Heyward’s right shoulder showed the same thing as the first — no structural damage.
“Just normal wear-and-tear of a normal major league shoulder, some inflammation,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Heyward has been on the 15-day disabled list since Sunday, and the Braves will wait for rotator-cuff inflammation to “calm down” before he resumes hitting. Gonzalez said Heyward could be back shortly after the 15-day period.
The right fielder probably will be sent to Orlando for a few extended-spring training games, then play a rehab game or two at Triple-A Gwinnett before he’s activated. In extended-spring games, he could bat in every inning to get more work on his swing.
Heyward left the team Sunday and returned to Atlanta for a dye-contrast MRI, wherein dye is injected to enhance the scan images. He had complained of recurring soreness and crackling sensations in his right (non-throwing) shoulder.
The shoulder has bothered him since spring training, but worsened in mid-May to where it hurt to swing. He had an MRI, missed five starts and received a cortisone shot, then returned to the lineup May 16.
After playing three games, the soreness returned, and Heyward was shut down last weekend and placed on the DL.
His production has declined significantly in his second season. He has batted .214 with seven homers, 14 RBIs and a .317 on-base percentage in 45 games, including an .098 average (4-for-41) with no RBIs and 15 strikeouts in May.
Hudson, Beachy updates
Pitcher Tim Hudson has recovered from back stiffness and is set to start Monday, while Brandon Beachy (oblique strain) is probably at least 3-4 weeks from returning to the Braves’ starting rotation.
Beachy, injured while batting during a May 14 game against Philadelphia, played catch from a distance of about 100 feet Friday.
Gonzalez said once Beachy’s cleared to throw from the mound, the rookie right-hander would need to rebuild arm strength and probably make two or three minor-league rehab starts before he’s ready to return to Atlanta’s rotation.
Beachy was 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA in eight starts before the injury.
Hudson missed a rotation turn Wednesday at Pittsburgh after returning to Atlanta last weekend to have his back checked by Braves specialists. He has been cleared to pitch Monday’s series opener against San Diego.
The veteran right-hander had back stiffness during a May 20 loss at Anaheim, where he allowed eight runs, seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings — the first time in his career that he allowed as many as eight earned runs in fewer than five innings.
Chipper: Urgency needed earlier
For the second season in a row, the Braves have shown a penchant for hitting home runs in the late innings of close games. Chipper Jones just wishes they would adopt a similar approach for other situations, too.
The Braves were hitting just .223 in close-and-late situations, which ranked 13th in the National League before Friday. However, they had 17 homers in those situations, more than twice as many as any other NL team.
“It’s nice to have that ability and nice to be able to turn it on when we need to,” Jones said. “I just wish there was a little more urgency early on in games because if we keep playing [close] games like we’re playing, we’re going to blow out [relievers Eric] O’Flaherty, [Jonny] Venters, [Craig] Kimbrel.”
Only 11 major league pitchers had 25 or more relief appearances before Friday, including that Braves trio: Venters had a majors-leading 28, O’Flaherty had 27, and rookie closer Kimbrel had 25.
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