Atlanta Braves Injury News, Rumors: Ender Inciarte Placed on DL with Strained Hamstring
The Atlanta Braves signed Ender Inciarte to boost the team's weak centerfield, but any improvement they're hoping for is put to a temporary halt after he suffered a strained left hamstring. The team latest announced that he has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Inciarte was still on the field in last Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he failed to finish it after complaining that his hamstring was feeling a little tighter. The Braves believe it happened when he was running towards first base. He was seen having difficulty pulling up after running down the base line in the first inning.
He told the coaching staff that he no longer can continue and finish the game. The day after, the team listed him as "day-to-day" and diagnosed his condition was nothing but a hamstring tightness.
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With him out for some time, Atlanta decided to recall one of its up-and-coming players in outfielder Mallex Smith from Triple-A Gwinnett, while veteran Drew Stubbs is expected to fill in for Inciarte while he's out after he played centerfield in two games after the injury, per CBS Sports.
Stubbs joined the team this spring training and will be a top competitor for centerfield against Inciarte. Although the injury is a temporary setback, the performance of Stubbs in the coming games may have a significant effect on the chances of Inciarte as a starter.
More Roster Movement
Aside from Smith, a couple of other moves were initiated by the Braves early in the season, recalling right-hander Chris Withrwo from Gwinnett and then optioning another right-hander in John Gant to Triple-A.
Furthermore, the team decided to give Emilion Bonifacio another chance to crack the rotation by agreeing to a minor league deal. Actually, the utility player was assigned by the team to Gwinnett a week ago.
