Todd Cunningham is a candidate for the Braves unsettled center field opening. (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)
The Atlanta Braves went into spring training knowing that there would be a battle for playing time in left field. Now the starter for opening day at the other two outfield spots is also in question.
Center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. will miss at least the first month of the season with a foot injury detected early in camp and right fielder Nick Markakis may not be ready for the opener in Miami on April 6 as he continues to rehab from December neck surgery.
Veteran free-agent signee Jonny Gomes will at least be part of a platoon in left field and Zoilo Almonte, a former New York Yankees prospect who is out of minor league options, is a strong candidate in right field with the ability to play either corner outfield spot.
That leaves the biggest battle in center field, where veteran Eric Young Jr. will compete with rookies Eury Perez and Todd Cunningham.
Young and Perez are both base-stealing threats and could hit leadoff — a trouble spot for the Braves in recent years.
“You’re kidding anybody if you don’t see it as an opportunity,” said Young, who stole 46 bases to lead the National League in 2013 before hitting just .229 last season with the New York Mets.
The veteran Young is a spring invitee after signing a minor league deal and Perez, plucked from the Washington Nationals on waivers, has 268 stolen bases in eight minor league seasons.
Cunningham, like Perez a good defensive center fielder, was a second-round draft pick by the Braves in 2010 and spent the past two seasons with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Markakis, given a four-year, $44-million deal to replace the traded Jason Heyward, may be ready to start in right field by the opener, but won’t play in Grapefruit League games for a while.
“Opening day is a goal,” the former Baltimore Oriole said. “Neck surgery is pretty serious, so you don’t want to rush it.”
Upton began feeling discomfort a few days into camp, but was shocked to end up in a cast after doctors discovered inflammation in a bone behind the ball of his left foot.
“I went into it thinking a week at the most,” Upton said. “I thought after a couple of days it would be fine.”
