Braves injury updates: Kyle Wright to return ; Soroka done for the year

The Atlanta Braves keep dealing with injuries, but their depth has held up so far and help is on the way

The Atlanta Braves have had one of their more challenging seasons from an injury perspective in recent history, but their depth has held and the team’s on the verge of their sixth consecutive division title.

 

Atlanta’s used 16 different starting pitchers in 2023, 13 traditional starters and three relievers as openers, as they’ve dealt with significant losses to their starting rotation.

The biggest absences for Atlanta were Max Fried and Kyle Wright, with Fried returning in August after a 60-Day IL stint for a forearm strain. Wright hasn’t pitched in MLB since May 3rd as he’s been working to recover from the shoulder issue that’s plagued him going back to January, when he got a cortisone injection to ease pain and reduce swelling.

But he’s on the verge of returning.

Wright’s completed three rehab starts, with the most recent coming on Tuesday in AAA Gwinnett. Against the Worcester Red Sox, Wright went 3.2 innings with no runs on one hit and two walks, striking out seven. He threw 50 pitches, 29 for strikes.

Talking to reporters after last night’s game, he expressed confidence that he could be back in time to get the ball at least once in the regular season, explaining that he’d more than likely get one more rehab start (which could come as soon as this Sunday), making him available late next week for a series at Miami.

The return comes at a perfect time, as Michael Soroka is being shut down for the year with what was diagnosed as forearm inflammation. Leaving his Tuesday night start after reports of numbness in his fingers, Soroka thankfully avoided any sort of structural damage but is going to be unable to rehab and return to action before the end of the season.

It’s unfortunate timing for both Soroka and the Braves, and impacts Atlanta’s future roster construction. With Soroka on the 15-day injured list, he’ll accrue enough service time between now and the end of the season to earn a 5th year of service, meaning he becomes a free agent after 2024, not 2025. With Max Fried heading to free agency in that offseason and Charlie Morton having played out the team option year, Atlanta’s faced with the possibility of losing three members of their rotation in the same offseason.

Relievers Nick Anderson (shoulder) and Jesse Chavez (shin) still do not have timetables for their returns, with both remaining on the 60-day injured list. Anderson is throwing from a mound and the belief is that he could potentially start a rehab assignment next week, but that’s not been confirmed by team officials. Chavez was seen throwing on the field prior to last night’s game, but it’s also unknown when he’ll advance to mound and if that progression will happen soon enough for him to rejoin the team in a competitive capacity before the end of the season.

Reliever Collin McHugh (right shoulder inflammation) is on the 15-day IL, having been placed there at the same time as Soroka on Tuesday. There is no timetable as of now for his return, jeopardizing his availability for the postseason.

Atlanta’s mostly healthy at the major league level right nowin what feels like a rarity for a team that’s lost 2B Ozzie Albies, catchers Sean Murphy and Travis d’Arnaud, and centerfielder Michael Harris II for different stretches of the season.

Reserve Vaughn Grissom (hip) was recently placed on the 7-day injured list for AAA Gwinnett – all indications are that it’s a minor injury and the hope is he can return to action soon. But with the continued absence of utilityman Ehire Adrianza, who just started a rehab assignment with High-A Rome on Tuesday after shoulder and elbow injuries have kept him out of action since May, Atlanta claimed veteran shortstop Andrew Velasquez off of waivers on Tuesday and sent him to AAA Gwinnett as emergency depth as we approach the postseason.

Outfielder Sam Hilliard, who got plenty of run in centerfield while Michael Harris II was out with injuries to his back and knee early this season, has suffered a setback in his quest to return from a heel contusion suffered in late July. He’s been moved to the 60-day injured list and his season is likely over.

In light of these injuries, Atlanta’s elected to carry utilityman Luke Williams, who has experience in both the outfield and infield, on the active roster for the last few weeks. He’s the last man on a bench that also includes outfielders Kevin Pillar (who starts against lefties) and defensive/pinchrunning specialist Forrest Wall and infielder Nicky Lopez.