Atlanta Braves Sean Rodriguez to return to ATL soon after the All-Star break

Braves Rodriguez on the right path to return

I actually can not believe I’m typing this right now — well at least not on July 7 — Atlanta Braves utility man Sean Rodriguez is gearing up to join his teammates in Atlanta soon after the All-Star break.  Rodriguez is looking to do something he’s never done before…wearing an Atlanta Braves uniform in a game.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 2016, the Braves signed Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $11.5M.  All was right in our world…we found our second baseman/utility man until our prospects are ready! Great!

Two months later — January 28, 2017 — he was driving in the Florida area with his family in their SUV when they were struck by a stolen police cruiser at an intersection.  The very serious crash left his children in serious condition, his wife with multiple injuries and Sean had sustained extensive damage to his left shoulder, labrum damage and a dislocated bicep tendon.

At first, we were concerned about Rodriguez and his families life.  This was an extremely scary incident and all our prayers were going straight to that family.

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When the extent of the injuries was released and we knew his children we going to be okay, we all started to think about Sean getting back onto the field.

A long road ahead was in store for SRod and we were all willing to give him the ample time to heal up and be ready to return in 2018.  That was not his plan though.

Towards the end of May, Rodriguez told the media his intentions were to be back on the field this season.  Here is his exact quote…

“They’re expecting me to be out the whole year, and I’m not,” Rodriguez told MLB.com. “I told them that from Day One, ‘I’m going to be back. Don’t count me out just yet.'”

I think this caught a lot of us off guard.  Could he really return from those injuries in that time period?  

On July 1, Rodriguez returned to the field!  Not with the Atlanta Braves, obviously, but with the Gulf Coast League Braves.

In his first game back, Rodriguez went 1-3 at the plate with a single.  He played one more game with the GCL Braves and went 0-2 at the plate and started the game at shortstop.

On July 4, the Braves moved Rodriguez up to the Rome Braves.  He went 0-4 at the plate and started the game at second base.  Wednesday, the Braves gave him the day off and on Thursday the Rome game was rained out.

So Friday, the Braves called him up to Gwinnett!

Rodriguez is batting 3rd for Gwinnett and playing second base.  He hit a sac fly RBI in the first inning.

Already in Triple-A…hell yeah!!

The plan — right now — is for Rodriguez to play with Gwinnett through the weekend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Then since Triple-A will be on their All-Star break (off until July 13), the Braves will move him down to Double-A Mississippi.

Mississippi Braves have games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  At that point,

At that point, it’s currently unknown.  Could he return to Atlanta Thursday, July 13?  Could the Braves send him back to Triple-A Gwinnett on that date?  Will he stay in Mississippi?

I guess the plan will be affected by how well he’s doing and if he seems healthy enough to continue moving up.

In any way, it’s great news for Braves fans, Braves and Sean Rodriguez.

Next question is what do the Braves do when he returns?

This is looking ahead just a little, but if Rodriguez is ready to return his year, what move will the Braves make?

The current Braves bench looks like this — Jace Peterson, Johan Camargo, Lane Adams and second catcher Kurt Suzuki.

But as we list those, don’t forget about Danny Santana (just went on the DL today), Adonis Garcia and Micah Johnson.

Then, don’t forget about that all-important Tuesday, July 31st date.  The MLB Trade Deadline!  Will the Braves make a move prior to the 4:00pm deadline?

Next: Midseason BA 100 List Includes 9 Atlanta Braves

Atlanta has a few guys they could trade, but it’s all on John Coppolella and the Braves front office.  One thing is for sure…the rest of 2017 will be interesting!