Injured Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte is officially on the path back to the majors. He launched a rehab assignment today, per a club announcement.
Inciarte will start things off with the club’s High-A affiliate. The Braves will surely exercise some caution in ramping him up. Back injuries can linger, as has already occurred in this particular case.
So long as Inciarte’s back doesn’t start barking again, he ought to move fairly swiftly back up the chain. The Braves ought to have at least a few weeks to see how Inciarte looks and fits on the MLB roster before making final deadline decisions.
As I argued about a month back, the left-handed-hitting center fielder still figures to be a useful piece for the Atlanta roster now and into the future. It’s hard to see Inciarte re-taking his everyday role, but he’d still fill a significant niche if he can get the bat going upon his return.
That said, his ultimately activation will still pose tough roster and playing-time questions. Austin Riley is still slugging, though his on-base numbers are sagging, while reserves Johan Camargo, Charlie Culberson, and Matt Joyce are all hitting quite well. It’s a good problem to have for the division-leading Braves.
0-2… looked awful. I predict a “setback” … although with Riley in a sorta slump, ender should prob try to pounce now
Really? Riley looked just fine vs. My mets
He has comeback down to earth since his hot start. The league adjusted to him and he has been seeing a lot more sliders. Still has that pop to hit the ball out that Ender doesn’t possess.
No doubt. Hence why I said sorta slump.
Riley’s on base numbers are lagging… 25 points higher than Inciarte’s OBP… not a strong argument to justify playing time for Inciarte
I’m not arguing that. I was briefly pointing out the recent performances of the players who Inciarte will necessarily challenge for roster space/playing time.
As a Braves fan, I truly disagree with you. I wish so badly that either we would just keep him at AAA or trade him. Don’t get me wrong, I like him a lot, he’s a great teammate and always fit well with the team, but he has hit atrociously this year and even most of last year. I don’t foresee that changing. When I hear the words “weak ground ball to 2nd” I immediately think of Ender in his current form. Riley may be in a slight funk, but his struggles are still far better than Ender has been in two years. And honesty, I wouldn’t dream of sending down any of Culberson, Joyce, or Camargo. The only potential good thing Ender would bring to the team at this point is good teammate, pinch runner, and defense maybe (last I had seen some metrics had cooled on his defense this year)
The problem with trading him you won’t get much value. Pinch runners and defensive replacements don’t get you valuable trade pieces.
Inciarte for Grichuk.
Just in time to be traded.
hahaha Yeah, the timing is peculiar.
Was this an actual minor league game that he played in or a simulated game? I heard that this weekend he was supposed to play in a simulated game against Kevin Gausman. Does anyone know how that went?
The funny thing about a Gausman vs. Inciarte simulated game is that I feel like it wouldn’t really give us any useful info. If Inciarte did well I would just assume it was because Gausman sucked. If Gausman did well I would just assume it was because Inciarte sucked.
Glad to see that Joyce has gotten his game back together again.
I think Ender and Folty are both gonna end up getting traded. Ender should fetch a BP arm at least. Folty could be used to get another starter.
The Ender’s, the Mallex Smith’s, the Juan Pierre’s of the world basically have to hit .290 to have any sorta value offensively. They don’t draw walks, don’t hit home runs and if you hit .290’s that’s ok, because you’re getting on base at a .340ish rate. But if all of a sudden you slump and you’re hitting .250-.260, well now you’re on base is sitting in the .300 range and you are basically worthless offensively.
According to a reliable sports source in Atlanta the Marlins are willing to trade Caleb Smith to the Braves for 2 of the following 3 pitchers, Wilson, Gohara and Ynoa. I would tell them they can have Wilson and Ynoa. If Gohara can get healthy and stay healthy he’s going to be very good but I would deal the other 2 right this minute for Smith if that’s what the Marlins want.
This is far from the truth
Which reliable sports source?