Braves catcher Manny Piña has suffered ligament and cartilage damage in his left wrist, the team informed reporters (including David O’Brien of the Athletic). He will undergo season-ending surgery. The 34-year-old was placed on the injured list late last month with what the team called wrist inflammation, and a recent MRI revealed the issue was more serious than first believed.
Atlanta somewhat surprisingly inked Piña to a two-year, $8MM deal over the offseason. Brought in as a veteran #2 option behind Travis d’Arnaud, he only appeared in five games during his first season with the Braves. William Contreras is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. Contreras had a nice showing in 44 Triple-A games last year, but the Braves nevertheless prioritized experience in adding Piña behind d’Arnaud — who has had some injury issues throughout his career.
Piña was coming off a decent season backing up Omar Narváez in Milwaukee. The longtime Brewer hit 13 home runs in 208 plate appearances to help compensate for a lackluster .293 on-base percentage. As he has throughout his career, he also rated very well defensively. Piña turns 35 in June and is under contract for $4.5MM next season.
Atlanta has Chadwick Tromp as a non-roster catching option with Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s off to an incredible .367/.400/.750 start over 16 games with the Stripers, so the Braves could call him up if they want the 24-year-old Contreras to see regular reps in the minors. (Selecting Tromp would require a 40-man roster spot, but that could be freed by transferring Piña to the 60-day injured list). It’s certainly possible the Braves could look outside the organization for catching depth via waivers or minor trade, as well.
Blake Swihart on- Line 2.
Acuna is also out today with groin soreness. Uh oh, spaghetti-o’s.
Not surprising a guy coming back from lower body injury to have soreness after playing as much as he has. Wouldn’t read much into acuna
Ok, Dr. Des Moines.
Glad you know Iowa’s capitol. Gonna tell everyone we grow corn too?
Acuna is getting an MRI today for his groin injury. Read into THAT.
Too bad for the pineapple. Always loved him in Milwaukee
Not a huge loss but the season is over anyway. Hopefully, it is a start of a retool with Ozuna and Duvall gone.
You must be a Mets fan! Or maybe just a Braves Troll.
Troll for sure.
Nah it’s what he really wants. He’s always had radical ideas for the Braves including signing old man bumgarner
MadBum equals NLCS!!!
He sounds LT (Looney Tunes)!
Must be metsfan22 he’s got several new accounts hard to keep up with all the constantly changing names
Damn. I’d hoped he could come back as the 3rd catcher and let Contreras get semi-regular ABs as DH/C/LF. Kid needs to play.
*WORLD CHAMPIONS
Contreras should be splitting duties in the majors and DHing. He is the Braves future.
I never understood that signing in the first place.
They should bring up Langeliers. Oh, wait…
Ouch!
Call ,Preller , ask for Brett Sullivan,
My vote is for Tromp.. probably won’t be counted though.
But it’s not an election year, and he hasn’t announced he’s running again on any major news source… Plus, it’s a bit early for the election fraud references.
Tromp for House? Maybe govorner?
I don’t know, I heard his bat is not that great
I heard they have medication for that…..
Padres have extra catchers to move. I’d love to land Campusano.
Hello Preller…..