Braves catcher, Flowers, is most likely on his way to the DL
“It doesn’t look good”. Those are the words of the Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker. Braves catcher, Tyler Flowers, left Thursday’s game during his first at-bat of the season with left oblique discomfort.
When the injury first happened, we were all questioning what Flowers had injured. After the trainers came out to check on the 32-year-old, they only talked and never examined an area on Flowers.
This past offseason, Flowers had two surgeries to his wrist and his forearm. During the 2018 Spring Training, he dealt with a groin injury that caused him to miss multiple games.
INJURY NEWS: Catcher Tyler Flowers left today's game after suffering an injury while swinging in his first plate appearance of the season.
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) March 29, 2018
Kurt Suzuki replaces him behind the plate.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/MQZtR166cz
Flowers played in only 10 games this Spring and had 21 at-bats. He batted .095/.269/.095 with five walks and 10 strikeouts.
About 15 minutes following Flowers’ exit from the game, the Braves posted why he left…Flowers is dealing with discomfort in his left oblique.
Tyler Flowers left today’s game with left oblique discomfort.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 29, 2018
Kurt Suzuki entered the game for the Braves at the catcher position. The 34-year-old catcher went 1-2 and a walk on Thursday. After he was walked in the 8th inning, Peter Bourjos pinch ran for Suzuki. That run tied the game for the Braves.
“It doesn’t look good” – Brian Snitker
After the game, Snitker spoke with the media about the events that happened on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, his update for Flowers isn’t positive.
“I think it was the swing prior to the swing that I went out there,” Snitker told the media following the game. “It doesn’t look real good. Those things are nasty, as we know.”
“Those things” yup, they’re oblique injuries and yup, they’re tough and could take a while to get over.
Oblique injuries seem to be more and more common these days. According to a study by former Dodgers athletic trainer Stan Conte, players start off on the 10-day disabled list, but it usually takes around 27 days to recover.
We could be looking at a month until Flowers can return. Obviously this injury and news is extremely recent so this is just speculation, but Conte’s research does seem accurate.
Next: Bad news for Braves LH pitcher Jacob Lindgren
The Braves will go with Suzuki and Chris Stewart at the catcher position.