Dan Uggla and Freddy Garcia’s Night In Gwinnett
By Jeff Schafer
The Gwinnett Braves added infielder Dan Uggla to their roster on a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. Uggla has been on Atlanta’s disabled list since August 13 as he underwent a LASIK procedure to improve his eyesight. Monday night marked the first career Triple-A games for Uggla, who skipped over the level on his way to the Majors. It will also be his first career minor league rehab assignment.
Jul 30, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla (26) hits a double against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
But, it was not the performance he nor Braves Nation wanted as he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
The 33-year-old was hitting .186 (72-for-388) with 10 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 53 RBIs in 112 games with Atlanta prior to being placed on the disabled list.
Uggla is the 12th Atlanta Braves’ player to spend a rehab stint with Gwinnett this season, joining infielder Paul Janish (left shoulder surgery, April 15-24, May 5-10), first baseman Freddie Freeman (strained right oblique, April 19-21), catcher Brian McCann (right shoulder surgery, May 2-5), outfielder Jason Heyward (appendectomy, May 9-15), right-hander Jordan Walden (right elbow inflammation, May 27), right-hander Luis Ayala (anxiety disorder, May 8-14, June 20-July 4), catcher Evan Gattis (strained right oblique, July 12-13), right-hander Brandon Beachy (right elbow surgery, May 19-28, June 8-14, July 9-24), outfielder B.J. Upton (right thigh strain, July 31-August 2), outfielder Jordan Schafer (right ankle contusion, August 3-9) and catcher Gerald Laird (kidney stone, August 10-11).
Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Freddy Garcia got rocked in his first outing in Gwinnett. He went 3-2/3 IP giving up eight runs on seven hits with five walks and only one strikeout. Not the performance we’d like to see out of a guy we signed hoping he’d help the MLB team.
The right-hander was acquired by the Atlanta Braves from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations on Friday, August 23, and was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett right after the signing. The Braves hoped he’d give them a few quality starts with the G-Braves and then make is way to the ATL.
Garcia, 36, went 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA (34 ER in 53.0 IP) in 11 appearances, 10 starts for Baltimore this season. He was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk in June and made 13 starts for the Tides, going 8-3 with a 2.84 ERA (26 ER in 82.1 IP).