May 2, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) rounds second on a home run against the New York Mets in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves star first baseman Freddie Freeman sustained a fractured left wrist and is expected to miss at least 10 weeks, the team announced on Thursday.
Freeman, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list, sustained the injury after being hit by a fastball from Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Aaron Loup in Wednesday’s interleague game.
Freeman was off to the best start of his career, batting .341 with a National League-best 14 homers and 25 RBIs in 37 games.
Atlanta signed veteran first baseman James Loney, who has a .284 career average over 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets. The Braves also recalled infielder Rio Ruiz from Triple-A Gwinnett.
–Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar was suspended two games by Major League Baseball for screaming a homophobic slur after striking out against Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte.
“I’m completely and utterly embarrassed,” Pillar wrote via Twitter, “and feel horrible to have put the fans, my teammates and the Blue Jays organization in this position. I have apologized to Jason Motte, but also need to apologize to the Braves organization and their fans, and most importantly, to the LGBTQ community for the lack of respect I displayed last night. This is not who I am and will use this as an opportunity to better myself.”
Pillar’s use of the slur on Wednesday was in response to a quick pitch from Motte, with the benches emptying after the incident.
–Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang appealed a suspended prison sentence but his drunken driving conviction was upheld in a South Korean court.
Based on the ruling, Kang is highly unlikely to return to the Pirates this season.
The Seoul Central District Court dismissed Kang’s appeal of a suspended two-year prison sentence over charges of fleeing the scene after crashing into the guardrail while driving drunk, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Kang appealed to have the punishment reduced to a large fine.
Last season, Kang had 21 home runs and 62 RBIs in his second season with the Pirates, who signed him to a four-year, $11 million contract in 2015.
–Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was activated from the 10-day disabled list, the team announced.
To make room for Gonzalez on the roster, infielder/outfielder Scott Van Slyke was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on May 5 with right elbow soreness. In 29 games with the Dodgers this season, Gonzalez is hitting .255 with no homers and 11 RBIs.
–Victor Martinez will miss the Detroit Tigers’ weekend series against the visiting Texas Rangers to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child, manager Brad Ausmus said .
Martinez was placed on the paternity list following Thursday afternoon’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
–The Cincinnati Reds recalled left-hander Amir Garrett from Triple-A Louisville to start Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He was the losing pitcher in the game.
The Reds optioned right-handed reliever Barrett Astin to Louisville.
