Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki gets hit on hand, exits game

Braves might be losing another catch…Suzuki HBP

Not good, folks.  Not good.  Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki was hit with a pitch in the bottom of the 4th inning and had to exit the Friday night game.

On a 2-1 pitch, Suzuki was hit on the left side of his right hand with a 94 mph fastball.  The 34-year-old immediately went to the ground in pain.  The Braves trainers came out to check on Suzuki’s right hand…which live it looked like it hit his wrist.  The slo motion camera view showed the fastball hit Suzuki just above the wrist.

The veteran catcher actually stayed in the game — the dude is one tough SOB.  He took his time, but he walked to first base and ran the bags.  Preston Tucker singled on the very next pitch which moved Suzuki to second base.  Then, Dansby Swanson went with the pitch and hit a single to right field.  Suzuki came hustling around third base and scored.  This gave the Braves the lead 3-2.

I thought for sure Suzuki was just running the bases so that the Braves wouldn’t have to burn a pinch runner on him.  Nope.  He put his shin guards on and came out to catch Folty for the top of the 5th inning.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Braves almost got back to Suzuki in the lineup — got to the #4 batter Nick Markakis.  I was really questioning what they were going to do.  Not sure they ever showed the on-deck circle or not.

In the top of the 6th inning, it was clear, Suzuki had to exit the game.  The Braves made a defensive substitution at the catcher position…Chris Stewart replaces Kurt Suzuki.

On Opening Day — his first at-bat of the season — Tyler Flowers suffered an oblique injury and had to exit that game.  Early today, we learned that Flowers going to be on the 10-day disabled list.  And during the game, Chip Carrey said he heard that Flowers “heard it pop”.  That doesn’t sound promising for a return any time soon for Flowers.

Now we lose Suzuki.  Who will be day-to-day or probably about 15 hours and then be placed on the 10-day DL.  Just speculating right now, nothing has been official.  Basing that off recent, similar looking hit-by-pitches.

Charlie Culberson is the Braves emergency catcher tonight, but he won’t be tomorrow.  The Braves will need to make some sort of move if they’ve lost Suzuki.

Next: Braves catcher Tyler Flowers heading to the DL

We’ll update you as soon as we hear something additional.