The growing ranks of the Braves’ walking wounded were joined Friday by Nate McLouth, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a lower abdominal strain.
Injured making a throw from center field Thursday, McLouth became the third Brave and second Braves outfielder on the DL in three days. Catcher Brian McCann (oblique) and center fielder Jordan Schafer (finger) were placed on the DL on Wednesday.
Chipper Jones returned from the DL on Monday after arthroscopic knee surgery, then hurt his right quadriceps in his first game back and has since been limited to pinch-hitting duty. Jones might return to the lineup this weekend against Florida.
“We’ll survive it,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the spate of injuries. “We always talk about how every team goes through it. ... I have all the confidence in our club, that we’re going to be able to survive that.”
To replace McLouth, the Braves brought up 27-year-old speedster Jose Constanza from Triple-A Gwinnett and started him in center field, batting leadoff in his major league debut Friday.
It’s the second DL stint of the season for McLouth, who missed 22 games for a strained oblique.
With the Sunday non-waiver trade deadline approaching and the Braves already on the market for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, Gonzalez was asked whether the McLouth injury might have changed their outlook or urgency.
“I don’t know,” he said. “We still have the third-best record in the National League. You still feel pretty good about your club. Obviously now, if the trade deadline comes and goes, we’ve still got to weather the storm.”
Constanza debuts
Constanza arrived at Turner Field about 5:15 p.m. Friday, just in time from a flight from Durham to get in uniform and meet the Braves on the field, where they were already taking batting practice.
He had just over two hours to prepare for his first major league start, in center field and batting leadoff. The Braves hoped he would prepare like he does about everything else — fast.
That was the one-word scouting report Martin Prado gave on Constanza, shortly after greeting him in the dugout with a hug.
“Fast,” Prado said, looking back to several reporters as he jogged back onto the field.
Constanza was hitting .312 in Gwinnett with 23 stolen bases in 31 attempts. He had two doubles, four triples and a .361 on-base percentage. He bats left-handed and can play all three outfield positions.
“Maybe he can get us going a little bit,” Gonzalez said.
Constanza signed with the Braves as a six-year minor league free agent from the Indians and was a non-roster invitee to major league camp.
To make room for Constanza on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated shortstop Diory Hernandez for assignment. They have 10 days to trade him, or if not, and he clears waivers, the Braves plan to outright him back to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Gilmartin nears debut
First-round draft pick Sean Gilmartin is expected to make his Braves debut late next week in the Gulf Coast League, according to Braves director of player development Kurt Kemp.
Gilmartin, the Braves’ 28th overall pick in the draft out of FSU, signed three weeks ago and has been building his arm strength in Orlando after taking a six-week break from the mound. He is scheduled to throw two innings in a simulated game Monday and two innings in his debut later in the week.
About the Author
