8:22am: McCann’s IL placement and Jackson’s promotion are now official, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets.
12:01am: Braves catcher Brian McCann left Saturday’s game after suffering a right hamstring strain that will almost certainly result in a stint on the injured list. McCann suffered the injury sliding into third base during the fourth inning of Atlanta’s 4-2 loss to the Marlins, and left the field under the observation of team trainers.
If that wasn’t enough of a blow to the Braves’ catching corps, Tyler Flowers replaced McCann behind the plate and was then hit on the right hand during a fifth-inning at-bat against Miami’s Tayron Guerrero. Flowers toughed it out for the remainder of the evening, and x-rays on his injured hand didn’t reveal any fractures, the catcher told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and other reporters after the game. While an IL placement doesn’t seem likely at this point, Flowers did think he might need a day or two to recover, leaving Atlanta rather short-staffed behind the place.
McCann signed a one-year, $2MM contract to return to Atlanta this offseason, teaming up with Flowers as the platoon replacement for Kurt Suzuki. McCann was keen to return to his home state and hopes to rebound from a lackluster 2018 season that saw him hit just .212/.301/.339 over 216 PA for the Astros. Knee injuries plagued McCann over his two years in Houston, and he missed two months last season after undergoing surgery.
Alex Jackson will be in Atlanta prior to Sunday’s game to take McCann’s spot on the 25-man roster, manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including Bowman). Assuming Flowers is still sore, Jackson is on pace to make his Major League debut, close to five years after being selected sixth overall by the Mariners in the 2014 draft.
Jackson was originally a catcher in high school before the Mariners moved him to the outfield upon his draft selection. Both MLB.com and Baseball America ranked Jackson within the top 30 prospects in baseball prior to the 2015 season, though his stock began to drop after a pair of forgettable seasons in Seattle’s farm system. Even with these struggles in mind, it was still rather surprising when Jackson was unceremoniously dealt to the Braves as part of a four-player trade in November 2016, though Jackson hasn’t done much since joining Atlanta’s organization to regain his past blue chip status.
The Braves did switch Jackson back behind the plate prior to the 2017 season, however, which has opened the door for his first taste of big league action. MLB.com cites Jackson as the 28th-best prospect in Atlanta’s system, describing his likely future in the Show “as a power-only backup backstop with decent catch and throw skills.” The same scouting report credits Jackson with improved defense as he has readjusted to his old position, though pitch-blocking remains an issue. Still just 23 years old, Jackson has hit .234/.317/.410 over 1580 career plate appearances in the minors.
If Flowers can’t play over the short term but also isn’t hurt enough to require an IL placement, it leaves Atlanta in a bit of a catching crunch. Rafael Lopez is available at Triple-A, though the Braves would have to make another move to add Lopez to the 40-man roster. Charlie Culberson is Atlanta’s emergency catcher and could back Jackson up for a couple of days at most, though Culberson didn’t think he’d played catcher since he was a ten-year-old.
Just your daily reminder of how bad Jack Z was at being a GM.
As much as I loved bringing McCann back, the Braves took a big risk assuming his knees/hamstrings would hold up at 35-years-old despite what he’s said about both feeling the best they’ve had in years.
Really thought his signing was a precursor to a Realmuto deal and maybe that was the plan. As much as they’ve given themselves options at third now and long term (Donaldson, Camargo, Riley), I don’t love that they’re putting all their eggs into Contreras being the catcher of the future.
Big risk? We gots McCann for cheap.
The risk wasn’t the money it was trusting in his health even if he was part of a platoon with Flowers.
If only they had an opportunity to land the arguably the best C in baseball during the offseason. But clearly, Flowers McCann should be enough.
Yea. They should have sprung LAST offseason. 3 years of Reamuto could have been had for Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies or adamant Swanson, Kyle Wright or Ian Anderson, and another team top 20 prospect pitcher.
Probably would have won the World Series last year too!
You dont understand what they are doing with Camargo. He isnt depth for the thirdbase. He’s depth for thr entire infield and maybe even the outfield.
Marlins are very notorious for pitching Braves hitters high and inside dating back to last season.. Acuna and flowers can definitely attest to this. Just sayin’
McCanns bat and catching capabilities are still there, but watching him run the paths is akin to witnessing pitchers try to hit… Its ugly!
the braves arent alone; feels like every batter on the phillies has been pitched well inside at some point or another this year.
Braves just called Detroit. “We will trade you Luke Jackson for Cameron Rupp”
Alex Jackson is a Christmas baby!
I don’t understand why Josh Donaldson isn’t the emergency catcher, didn’t he come up as a catcher?
Agreed… makes more sense than somebody not being a catcher since he was 10. I guess something about Culberson makes him the “emergency catcher”.
Don’t think you want to put that extra stress on a star player
Right. He’s definitely an emergency catcher if we need one. Idk why cc is the first go to. Flowers just needs to go on the dL
How dare you try to put AA’s boy in such a precarious position!
Because you don’t use an everyday player as your emergency catcher and risk replacing a regular player with a bench guy. In Donaldson’s case, they’re trying to protect his legs anyway, so expecting him to work out as a catcher would be BRILLIANT!, as the Guinness ads used to say.
No need to get our 23million dollar man hurt
Don’t let McCanns injury distract you from the fact Minter is literally behind on every single hitter he faces
This is (one of) the guy that’s supposedly good enough that we didn’t need to make any bullpen additions this offseason
He’s not good enough. He has to throw more strikes. New season, same story.
Brett Nicholas was released earlier this Spring. Should be able to get him for AAA or current roster.
Josh Donaldson used to catch. Later experience than when Culberson was 10.
That is irrelevant. You don’t but your biggest free agent sign whom you’ve committed $23M to behind the plate when he has already shown the last two years that he has leg/calf issues and cost stay healthy. That would be stupid.
Afraid this is a preview of McCann’s season. He’s not only aged a bit, but is carrying too much weight. and doesn’t appear in the shape he was in at one time.. That happens with age, but when trying to play catcher at his age and physique, every edge possible is needed and he’s missed on two of them. Maybe Braves’ conditioning’s fault, maybe not. Still, his hitting & handling of pitchers has been good, but if not there to do it, its a value to the team. not realized.
I think his presence in ST coupled with jersey sales puts the Braves in the black on their $1m.
let’s sign him and christain bethancourt then we’ll have the whole band back together!
so someone totally posted Gattis is still available was my response lol…but it’s gone now for some reason
Bullpen still sucks horribly
If the Braves don’t sign Craig Kimbrel I don’t know who will. The Braves lose Arodys Vizcaino to free agency at the end of this year and then the closer is AJ Minter? Yah, sign Kimbrel
Braves knew what they were getting when they signed McCann. Anything he does good on the field is just an added bonus.
Farris is still available
Gattis
see there it is lol^^
So here is the deal. Brian McCann is off to a great start .286-0-4 with 4 walks in 5 games. BUT, he is still 35 and a big injury risk, and hasn’t had a ton of success since 2013.
Here’s trying to stay positive, Alex Jackson is going to come in a be our best catcher and one of our top performers offensive-wise
It’s a game for young legs.
Sandy Leon could at least catch, maybe even hit again?
Management is so reactive instead of proactive !
Maybe Wellington Castillo will be available.
When the catching starts to get injured, it can turn nasty very quickly. I think the Red Sox would be willing to ship Christian Vasquez to Atlanta.
What would the Sox want in return?