Braves infielder Tyler Pastornicky to undergo MRI on knee

The red-hot Atlanta Braves have a problem at second base.

The incumbent at the position, Dan Uggla, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday in order to have LASIK surgery (no, really) to correct a season-long eye issue. When the team placed Uggla on the DL, they recalled utility infielder Tyler Pastornicky to fill his position, and placed him immediately into the lineup at second base. However, Pastornicky went down in a heap before completing his first series in the role.

The 23-year-old Pastornicky left Wednesday’s game in the 3rd inning after colliding with the beast that is Jason Heyward while trying to field a pop-up in shallow right field. He was diagnosed (by team release) with a sprained left knee after the game, and he is scheduled to undergo an MRI sometime on Thursday to determine the severity of the damage.

Obviously, this is a crushing blow to Pastornicky, who had been given the keys to the kingdom at second base for the best team in the National League. However, the Braves have an issue of their own, as their only remaining infielder (Paul Janish) is a fantastic glove man who can’t hit at all, and the minor league system is barren with MLB-ready talent in the middle infield.

In his career, Pastornicky has posted a .251/.292/.327 slash line that doesn’t make anyone drool for his offensive prowess. However, the downturn from him to another Minor League option could be potentially severe, and the Braves would love nothing more than to secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs in Uggla’s stead (if they even want him back soon considering his NL-leading strikeout total and .186 batting average). The situation remains fluid until Pastornicky’s MRI results return, but if they come back with a disastrous spin, GM Frank Wren could be looking far and wide for middle infield help.