{"id":8106,"date":"2017-08-09T15:10:04","date_gmt":"2017-08-09T19:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/\/?p=8106"},"modified":"2017-08-09T15:10:04","modified_gmt":"2017-08-09T19:10:04","slug":"braves-infield-uncertainty-settle-after-johan-camargo-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2017\/08\/09\/braves-infield-uncertainty-settle-after-johan-camargo-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Braves Infield Uncertainty May Settle after Johan Camargo Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Johan Camargo<\/a><\/strong> injury may settle some of the uncertainty around the Atlanta Braves infield alignment for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n

Camargo suffered a seemingly freak injury to his knee or leg Tuesday night as he took the field for the top of the first inning in the Braves\u2019 home game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was replaced at shortstop by Braves utility player, Jace Peterson<\/a><\/strong>, for the start of the game.<\/p>\n

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Camargo helped off field after some freak leg or knee injury as he was coming on field before 1st inning. Looked like hopped, landed wrong.<\/p>\n

\u2014 David O’Brien (@DOBrienAJC) August 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Camargo got hurt running onto the field before the game started. Didn’t look good. He’s out of the game & Peterson takes over at SS #Braves<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kelsey Wingert (@KelsWingert) August 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

For now, the Braves and beat media are reporting that Camargo has a hyperextended right knee and will undergo an MRI this evening, but any lengthy injury would be a devastating turn for a player who has been a revelation at the plate and affirmed his value as one of the organization\u2019s best defensive assets.<\/p>\n

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Johan Camargo suffered a hyper-extended right knee prior to tonight’s game. He will be further evaluated after undergoing an MRI tonight.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 9, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Braves Infield Uncertainty May Settle after Johan Camargo Injury<\/h2>\n

Coming into Monday night\u2019s game, Camargo was batting .292 with three home runs and 19 RBI and had only committed two errors in 155 chances at second base, shortstop, and third base (he has played outfield as well but not received any fielding chances there).<\/p>\n

The Braves are not realistically playing for playoff positioning at this point, sitting 15 games back in the NL East behind Washington and 11.5 games back of the NL\u2019s second Wild Card slot with five teams to catch. The team’s focus is on maximizing the development of young talent and getting returns from movable assets while they still have value.<\/p>\n

A serious injury to Camargo could put a pin in the Braves\u2019 attempts to trade any of their infield assets, including Brandon Phillips<\/a><\/strong>, a pending free agent who is slotted as Atlanta\u2019s primary third baseman for the remainder of the season after converting from second base.<\/p>\n

Should the 36-year-old Phillips be dealt, Camargo was projected as a possible replacement at third base, having played the position in nearly half his appearances this season. Injuries on offense, most notably to slugging left-fielder Matt Kemp<\/a><\/strong>, have returned Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong> to his normal position at first base and Matt Adams<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 who has dealt with head issues himself in recent weeks \u2013 to the outfield. Adonis Garcia<\/a><\/strong>, who was the Braves\u2019 Opening Day third baseman, is not close to return from his own injury.<\/p>\n

Braves beat reporters noted that shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 currently on a minor league assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett <\/a>to resolve his season-long struggles \u2013 was pulled from the Gwinnett Braves\u2019 game against the Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders after Camargo sustained his injury.<\/p>\n

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Dansby Swanson has been taken out of Gwinnett’s game in the 3rd inning after Johan Camargo got hurt taking the field in Atlanta. #Braves<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kelsey Wingert (@KelsWingert) August 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Swanson is the logical replacement for Camargo as the Braves\u2019 starting shortstop if manager Brian Snitker<\/a><\/strong> and team management are comfortable putting him back in position to receive everyday Major League at-bats.<\/p>\n

Swanson\u2019s return would finally pair him with fellow heralded prospect Ozzie Albies<\/a><\/strong> at the Major League level. Since Swanson was sent down to Gwinnett, Albies has been called up and assumed the role of starting second baseman. He and Swanson both primarily played shortstop, though the Braves have shifted Albies to second base for much of the last couple seasons with designs on having both players together in the middle of the infield.<\/p>\n

Though the July 31 trading deadline has passed, teams can still move players to other teams if they clear waivers or a deal is completed with a team claiming a player. If the Braves were to complete a major transaction to acquire a big-name talent, Albies or even Swanson could still be included in an outgoing package of players.<\/p>\n

Given the current league standings and the unlikelihood that a team would waive the type of controllable young talent Atlanta is seeking for future seasons, it is more probable that Swanson would join Albies back in the big leagues until Camargo is healthy.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>