Injuries & Moves: Albies off IL; Grissom, Shuster optioned

Injuries & Moves: Albies off IL; Grissom, Shuster optioned

August 29th, 2023

LATEST NEWS

Aug. 28: 2B reinstated off IL; RHP recalled; LHP , INF optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett
Albies was eligible to return off the IL on Friday, but the Braves were cautious and opted not to activate him. With Albies back, Grissom was optioned, along with Shuster, to Gwinnett.

Vines was also called up for the first time in his career and will provide bullpen depth. If he's not needed during the first two games of the current Rockies series, he could start Wednesday's series finale.

The 25-year-old, who is the club's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has gone 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA in nine starts across three levels this season. He was held out of action in 2023 until the end of June because of shoulder inflammation.

• All Braves transactions

INJURY UPDATES

10-day and 15-day IL

RHP  (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Chirinos complained of a sore elbow after he allowed four runs in four innings against the Giants on Aug. 19. He has posted a 9.27 ERA in five starts since joining the Braves -- having completed five innings in just two of those outings. (Last updated: Aug. 21)

OF (right heel contusion)
Expected return: TBD
Hilliard re-injured his right heel while playing a rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett on Aug. 5. It is unknown how much more time he might miss with this setback. He originally bruised the heel when his right foot jammed into the first-base bag during a July 18 loss to the D-backs.

Former Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson missed a month when he suffered a similar injury in 2019. (Last updated: Aug. 7)

RHP (right forearm inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Hernández was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 2 (retroactive to Aug. 1) with right forearm inflammation, which is a cause for concern given the righty reliever underwent Tommy John surgery in February 2022. He threw 3 2/3 innings with the Braves this season before landing on the IL. (Last updated: Aug. 2)

60-day IL

RHP (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly late September
Wright threw 26 pitches over three innings for High-A Rome on Aug. 24 in his first Minor League rehab game. Manager Brian Snitker said Wright threw well, did not need more than four pitches in any at-bat and reported feeling “great. It went about as good as he could have hoped.”

The right-hander will make several more starts to make himself available if he is needed in September or October, “climbing the ladder” of Minor League affiliates to face more experienced hitters. (Last updated: Aug. 25)

RHP (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: September
Anderson has been sent to the Spring Training complex in Florida to accelerate his preparations to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen. Braves manager Brian Snitker said the reliever is further along than he anticipated when he first learned about the veteran's shoulder ailment in July.  A MRI exam showed the strain. (Last updated: Aug. 18)

RHP (left shin contusion)
Expected return: TBD
Chavez is throwing off a mound, but it appears he is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning to the Braves' bullpen since his left shin was badly bruised by a comebacker from Miguel Cabrera on June 14. Like with Lee, it might be easier for the Braves to activate Chavez when rosters expand in September. (Last updated: Aug 14)

LHP (left shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly September
Lee has felt good during each of the three rehab appearances he has made for Triple-A Gwinnett, but the Braves have made it clear the left-handed reliever likely won't be activated any time soon. This will provide the team time to address a numbers crunch on its 26-man and 40-man rosters. The 26-man roster will expand to 28 in September. It might be easier to bring back Lee at that time.

Lee has been sidelined since feeling left shoulder discomfort after his May 16 appearance against the Rangers. (Last updated: Aug. 14)

LHP (left shoulder nerve inflammation)
Expected return: TBD 
Allard exited in the second inning against the White Sox on July 16 and was placed on the 60-day injured list, retroactive to July 17, with left shoulder nerve inflammation. There’s a chance this could be a season-ending injury for Allard, who opened the season on the 60-day IL with an oblique strain. (Last updated: July 18)

LHP (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Matzek has been playing catch for the past few weeks, but the plan remains for him to miss this season. (Last updated: June 20)

OF (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: TBD
Adrianza played in just five games with the Braves this season before straining his shoulder, then hit .357 in a four-game rehab stint with High-A Rome before being moved to the 60-day IL. (Last updated: May 19)

RHP (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Ynoa is recovering from surgery. (Last updated: April 7)

• More injury news