The Atlanta Braves can’t seem to catch a break from injuries this season. Already dealing with the loss of star player Ronald Acuña due to a knee injury, the team watched second baseman Ozzie Albies leave a game early after hurting his wrist in a loss to the Cardinals.
To address this setback, the Braves signed utilityman Whit Merrifield on Monday. However, just hours later, Merrifield also got injured!
Albies was injured while attempting to tag a St. Louis baserunner, resulting in a collision with his glove hand. This led to a broken wrist, expected to sideline Albies for two months.
Frustrated, manager Brian Snitker expressed his concerns, stating, “It gets to a point where it’s kind of over the top a little bit, and you can’t cover it. Depth will cover it to an extent, but after a while it’s hard.”
Things worsened when Whit Merrifield, brought in to replace Albies, also sustained an injury. While taking grounders, Merrifield took a ball off a finger on his throwing hand and is currently being evaluated for potential damage.
David O’Brien reported on Twitter: “You might not believe it, but it’s true: Whit Merrifield took a ball off a finger of his throwing hand while taking grounders an hour ago, is being evaluated now to make sure there’s no damage.”
The Braves hope Merrifield’s injury doesn’t lead to an IL stint, but given their luck this season, nothing is certain. Snitker commented on the situation, saying, “Can’t make it up. This year is something else.”
If Merrifield avoids serious injury, he could be a valuable asset for Atlanta. He led the American League in hits twice and steals three times while with the Royals and was an All-Star last season in Toronto, despite struggling this year with the Phillies. His versatility could be crucial for the Braves, provided he stays healthy.
