Braves place Schafer on DL, call up Terdoslavich

By foxsports
Published

After fouling a ball off his right ankle in Kansas City, Jordan Schafer has not been able to return to full speed. The Braves are hoping some time on the 15-day disabled list will help the young, resurgent outfielder return to form.

The franchise placed the 26-year-old on the DL with a right ankle contusion Thursday afternoon.

Schafer received sporadic playing time (two pinch-hit appearances) after suffering the injury, but his mobility was visibly limited.

Schafer has rejuvenated his career during the first half of the season, hitting .312/.399/.464 in 146 plate appearances, adding three home runs and 15 RBI. The team's primary base-running threat off the bench, he's also stolen nine bases thus far.

Though he's the fourth outfielder on the roster -- behind Jason Heyward and Justin and B.J. Upton -- Schafer has proven himself to be the team's best leadoff option (.409 on-base percentage) when he's in the lineup.

Taking Schafer's place on the big league club will be highly-rated prospect Joey Terdoslavich, who, after a disappointing season in 2012, has rebounded nicely this season.

Recently named to the MLB Futures Game roster along with fellow Braves prospect Christian Bethancourt, Terdoslavich is hitting .318 with a .926 OPS at Triple-A Gwinnett. After breaking the Carolina League record with 65 doubles in 2011, he's notched 43 extra-base hits -- including 18 home runs -- this year. Once considered the future replacement for Chipper Jones at third base, Terdoslavich has almost exclusively played the corner outfield positions this season.

The organization's former Minor League Player of the Year (2011) impressed manager Fredi Gonzalez and the organization in spring training, logging 17 hits in 43 at-bats, including four doubles and a home run. His switch-hitting bat should give Gonzalez options off the bench, too.

Terdoslavich is rated the No. 14 overall prospect in the team's farm system, according to MLB.com.

To make room for Terdoslavich on the 40-man roster, the Braves also moved reliever Jonny Venters, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier in the season, from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.