Braves fans given another injury scare with sprawling dive

Fenway may have also taken Jarred Kelenic after Sean Murphy was injured.

The Atlanta Braves are nearing the end of their game against the Red Sox, and things aren’t going well; the Braves are trailing 8-0. Rafael Devers is causing problems for Atlanta, and Spencer Schwellenbach’s second big league start was significantly worse than his first. However, the bigger news was injury-related, as another Brave got injured while playing at Fenway.

Jarred Kelenic appears to be settling nicely with the Braves. Unfortunately, in the sixth inning, Kelenic made a really nice diving play to end the inning but also appeared to harm himself, favoring either his wrist or his thumb.

Jarred Kelenic is staying in the game after this diving catch. pic.twitter.com/G94t62vsbN

— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) June 5, 2024

Kelenic did stay in the game to play defense during a lost cause, but when his position in the lineup became available in the top of the eighth, Atlanta substituted JP Martinez to bat in his stead.

Braves’ Jarred Kelenic may have hurt himself in lost game against Red Sox

There is never a good time to be wounded, but it’s especially horrible when the accident occurs during a game whose conclusion is already decided. Kelenic put his body on the line to make that grab, and we appreciate it, but there is now serious concern that the Braves may be without another outfielder.

We’ll know more after the game when Kelenic is examined by trainers and medical personnel, but it was an encouraging sign that he could at least play a couple of innings defensively. Snitker could have just elected to be cautious and pull him from an at-bat that was unlikely to result in anything significant. However, Kelenic was seen attempting to swing a bat after returning to the dugout after the play in question, indicating that there may be a larger issue to be investigated by trainers and medical personnel, but it was a good sign that he could at least stay in the game for a little longer.

The Braves traded for Kelenic with the hopes that he would emerge as one of their future outfielders. With his health in question and Ronald Acuna Jr. out for the season, the Braves may find themselves quite short on outfielders heading into the trade deadline, similar to the 2021 season. In fairness, that season went very well.