The Braves introduced Monday that Austin Riley has been recognized with a fractured proper hand that may sideline him for six to eight weeks. With just below six weeks remaining on the common season schedule, it may very effectively show to be a season-ending damage for the two-time All-Star. Riley was hit by a pitch in yesterday’s sport, and whereas preliminary imaging was inconclusive, an MRI carried out Monday revealed the fracture. Atlanta will presumably make a corresponding roster transfer to position Riley on the injured checklist and convey up one other infielder (e.g. Nacho Alvarez Jr.).
Atlanta additionally introduced that right-hander Reynaldo Lopez has been reinstated from the injured checklist, with right-hander Jimmy Herget being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in his place. He’s been out since Aug. 2 on account of irritation in his proper forearm.
The lack of Riley is one other crushing blow for a Braves membership that has been hammered by main accidents all season. Even on Opening Day, Atlanta misplaced catcher Sean Murphy to an indirect pressure that finally value him about two months of the season. That set the tone for a 2024 marketing campaign that has seen Spencer Strider (torn UCL and inside brace surgical procedure), Ronald Acuna Jr. (torn ACL), Ozzie Albies (fractured wrist), A.J. Minter (hip surgical procedure) and Michael Harris II (Grade 2 hamstring pressure) all endure appreciable, if not season-ending accidents.
Riley, 27, hasn’t been at his finest all season however has, till now, been within the lineup practically each day. He’s additionally picked up the tempo significantly since a dreadful begin to the season. Riley lugged an terrible .228/.295/.353 slash into the month of June … and has since erupted with a .275/.339/.531 that falls proper consistent with his profession averages. In a lineup that’s incessantly been with out a few of its finest hitters, he’s been a relentless alongside designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Now, it’s very doable that Riley’s 2024 season will draw to a detailed with 110 video games performed — though the precise wording of the workforce’s announcement leaves the door cracked for Riley to maybe play a couple of video games late in September if he heals extra rapidly than anticipated and the Braves are nonetheless in Wild Card competition.
Extra to come back.