ATLANTA — Third baseman Chris Johnson was expected to be sidelined four to six weeks, but it looks like he will make it back to the Atlanta Braves lineup inside the short end of that estimate.
Johnson, who injured his left hand sliding April 30 against Cincinnati, is rehabbing in Florida and could return in time for the beginning of the Braves’ 10-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
A quick return by Johnson would be good news for the Braves, who lost infielder Phil Gosselin to a broken left thumb on Sunday in Miami.
Until Johnson returns, the Braves are left with Alberto Callaspo and Pedro Ciriaco at third base. Adonis Garcia was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett, but mainly to serve as a right-handed pinch hitter.
Gosselin, who had surgery Wednesday, was hitting .325 and working into a regular role at third when he was hurt diving for a ground ball. He hopes to be back before the All-Star break.
“You know, they told me six to eight weeks, but I’m looking for the beginning of that for sure,” said Gosselin, who had hit .429 in his last 10 games. “Hopefully I can heal up quick, try to push it as much as they let me.”
Johnson was hitting .279 in 16 games when he was hurt on a steal attempt. The injury was first listed as a broken end, but an MRI revealed that the fracture was pre-existing. The real problem was multiple bone bruises.
Johnson was examined this week by Braves hand specialist Dr. Garry Lourie and cleared to increase his hitting and other activities, which he is doing at the Braves’ complex in Florida.