“That isn’t one of the things we want to do, but under the circumstances, it’s the best way to keep him in the lineup”, Mackanin said of Hernandez. While he won’t need surgery, it’s an injury that can take a month, possibly longer, to fully heal. Franco could have done it because that’s exactly how he started the season with the Phillies.
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Franco will wear a brace on his left wrist for the next 2-3 weeks and then be re-evaluated. In 77 games since being promoted to the Phillies, Franco has hit.
General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced before Tuesday’s game against Toronto that Franco, hitting. “We have to be as cautious as we can”. “We’ll see what’s going to happen”.
The Phillies recalled righthanded-hitting outfielder Aaron Altherr from Lehigh Valley to take Franco’s place on the active roster.
Fantasy Impact: This injury will likely end the promising 2015 season for the 22 year old rookie.
Altherr, 24, was a ninth-round draft choice of the Phils in 2009.
“We’re really happy with the way he’s progressed, starting with last offseason in winter ball”, Amaro said. I think that boosted his confidence quite a bit. It’s just six weeks – and he’ll still be getting his at-bats. “He’s an outstanding defender”.
But an X-ray that night (Aug. 11 in Arizona) came back negative and Franco was hopeful he would return to the Phillies’ lineup over the weekend in Milwaukee. Amaro said Andres Blanco will also see some time there.
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Mackanin played Hernandez at third against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, batting second. The platoon will be a downgrade from what Franco can provide offensively and defensively, but the Phillies don’t have many internal options. In seven minor-league seasons, he hit a combined.261. It was expected he would miss no more than a game or two.
