CINCINNATI — When Chipper Jones began his rehabilitation from July 9 arthroscopic knee surgery, he projected he would need two weeks to recover. Now it looks more like Jones will require closer to three weeks, which often is required for meniscus-tear repairs.
Jones felt soreness after working out earlier this week with Triple-A Gwinnett and has elected not to play in any rehabilitation games this weekend at Single-A Rome.
He’ll continue his clinical rehab over the weekend in Atlanta, then reassess Monday, when he rejoins the Braves for a workout before their series opener against the Pirates.
Originally, a best-case scenario would have had Jones playing in that game. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. But that target has been pushed back at least a few days.
The Braves would like for Jones to go on a rehab assignment, which wouldn’t begin until Tuesday at the earliest.
“It’s not like it’s a pulled hammy, it’s a surgically repaired knee,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who said he always figured Jones would need closer to three weeks’ recovery time. “So, I always thought closer to three than two. You’re talking about a 39-year-old knee that’s got a lot of innings in it.”
Jones is not characterizing this as a setback, just some soreness he has had to work through.
Gwinnett is on the road next week, and Rome is only at home through Tuesday. The Double-A Mississippi Braves are home all week and would seem the best option if Jones needs more than one game for a rehab assignment.
Uggla, Schafer hopeful
Second baseman Dan Uggla said he saw significant improvement in his strained left calf Friday and if he saw similar improvement overnight, he was expected to be back in the Braves’ lineup Saturday against the Reds.
Uggla hit off a tee Friday afternoon and took batting practice on the field.
“Hopefully it’ll be that much better tomorrow,” Uggla said. “And if it’s that much better tomorrow, I should be able to play on it.”
Uggla strained his calf during a sixth-inning at-bat Wednesday night against the Rockies. He played two more innings in the field, but left the game for a pinch runner after his singled tied the score in the eighth.
Jordan Schafer missed his second consecutive start with a jammed middle finger, which he injured Wednesday night sliding into second base. Schafer said the swelling has gone down considerably, but he still can’t grip a bat comfortably.
“Hopefully it’ll be all right tomorrow or the next day,” Schafer said.
Martinez recalled
The Braves optioned struggling rookie side-armer Cory Gearrin to Gwinnett on Friday and recalled Cristhian Martinez from the G-Braves to help shore up the bullpen.
The Braves sent Martinez down July 2 and put him in the Gwinnett rotation to get some innings after he was used only sparingly as a long reliever. But given Gearrin’s recent struggles, the Braves decided to call on Martinez and use him in a similar role as Gearrin.
Martinez went 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four starts in Triple-A Gwinnett.
“I’m not going to use him just as a long guy,” Gonzalez said. “Maybe we’ll use him in there like we did Cory, if we’ve got to get an inning, use him and [Scott] Proctor and [Scott] Linebrink.”
Gearrin has allowed 10 runs in his past 3 1/3 innings over five appearances since July 3. He gave up four runs in one inning in Colorado on Tuesday night.
While righties are hitting only .143 off him, left-handers are hitting .393 (11-for-28) off Gearrin with a double, three triples and 10 RBIs. The Braves would like to see him continue to develop his change-up to use against lefties.
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