Freddie Freeman’s return was short and not so sweet.
The Atlanta Braves first baseman was to be placed on the disabled list with a strained right oblique suffered during Monday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants. Freeman had missed five weeks with a sprained right wrist and played in just 10 games before the latest injury occurred.
The Braves also said Tuesday that shortstop Andrelton Simmons has a bone bruise on his right thumb sustained while trying to make a diving catch during Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. An MRI revealed no fracture or other significant damage.
Freeman was seen in third third inning of Monday’s game wincing at the plate after fouling off a pitch. He stayed in the game to play first in the top of the fourth but didn’t return for the fifth in order to seek treatment from team trainers.
Freeman struggled at the plate after his return with a .184 average but was hitting .284 for the season with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs and leading the Braves in slugging percentage at .500.
While Freeman was out of the lineup with the wrist injury, Atlanta used Chris Johnson and Joey Terdoslavich at first base.