Braves await word after Freddie Freeman hit on wrist by pitch again
Braves Country is holding its collective breath.
Last season, Freddie Freeman was hit by a pitch on his left wrist resulting in a fracture that derailed a budding MVP candidacy and cost him 44 games. Wednesday night, the Braves' two-time All-Star first baseman was hit seemingly on the same spot in Atlanta's 7-3 win over the Phillies.
There has been no update on Freeman's status, with manager Brian Snitker saying "it's a concern. When he gets hit on that hand ... I can't even comment. They're looking at him and evaluating him." He went on to say he expects to have an update on the 28-year-old star overnight.
It was an eerily familiar scene as Freeman took an 89-mph fastball from reliever Hoby Milner, the pitch appearing to hit him on the same spot as the pitch by the Blue Jays' Aaron Loup on May 17.
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Freeman winced in pain, and slowly made his way back to to the Braves dugout. He took off his batting helmet, tossed it in the air, and walked down the clubhouse steps with team medical staff to undergo X-rays.
Freeman, who went 1 for 3 with a strikeout, is hitting .288/.468/.492 with 18 walks and 169 wRC+. Only the Nationals' Bryce Harper has more walks (23) and Freeman's on-base percentage ranks eighth overall.
Last season, Freeman was leading the majors in slugging percentage, was second in on-base percentage and tied for third in WAR at the time of his injury. Expected to miss 10 weeks, he returned three weeks earlier than expected, but by season's end, he equated his strength to "swinging a wet newspaper."
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But he missed just one game after his July 4 return and ended the season slashing .307/.403/.586 with 28 home runs, 35 doubles and two triples.
Now, the Braves will await word on whether they'll be without Freeman for another extended period of time, with Charlie Culberson immediately taking his place in the field. They also have options in Ryan Flaherty, who has played 28 games at first, while Nick Markakis has made five starts at the position. There's also another first base option in Triple-A Gwinnett with Rio Ruiz, who saw time at first base this spring with the intent of expanding his versatility.
Meanwhile, Atlanta also signed six-time All-Star Jose Bautista to a minor-league deal Wednesday. He’s played 28 career games at first, but has manned the position for just two games since 2014.
