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Braves rumors: 4 ideal replacements for 4 toughest injuries so far

By Cody Williams

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Orlando Arcia #11 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being hit by a pitch during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on April 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Orlando Arcia #11 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being hit by a pitch during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on April 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /
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Vaughn Grissom, Atlanta Braves (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Injuries have ravaged the Braves early in 2023, but who are the ideal replacements for Max Fried, Travis d’Arnaud, Michael Harris II and Orlando Arcia?

When you just look at the numbers for the start of the 2023 season for the Atlanta Braves, you’d think that everything is going perfectly. They’re 9-4 atop the NL East by two games already with three potential MVP candidates on the roster in Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Austin Riley absolutely raking. All seems quite well.

However, the Braves are off to this hot start despite a litany of injuries to key players and true stars on this roster.

Max Fried has been on the IL since Opening Day with a hamstring injury, Michael Harris II joined him with a back issue, Travis d’Arnaud then hit the IL with a concussion, and then the latest is shortstop Orlando Arcia, who suffered a microfracture in his wrist after being hit by a pitch, which will land him on the injured list too.

The Braves’ depth has been celebrated, and rightfully so. However, with all of these injuries piling up, the question remains: Who are Atlanta’s best options to replace these players in the lineup and/or rotation?

Braves rumors: 4 best replacements for biggest injuries

Braves replacement for Orlando Arcia: Vaughn Grissom

This is by far the most obvious.

When the Braves made the decision to option Vaughn Grissom to Triple-A Gwinnett in favor of keeping Orlando Arcia on the roster, there were plenty of fans unhappy with the decision, thinking that last year’s call-up from Double-A due to the Ozzie Albies injury had earned the spot.

Arcia made that opinion look a bit silly with a white-hot start to the season, slashing .333/.400/.511 with two doubles and two homers in 13 games. But with the news that the hit-by-pitch caused a microfracture in his wrist, Grissom is the obvious choice to get the call to fill that void in the lineup and on the infield.

While Grissom has made strides defensively, he’s still not the glove that Arcia was. However, he’s continued to prove that he’s a major-league-caliber bat, hitting .366 with a 1.044 OPS so far this season.

Grissom arguably earned a shot to be the Braves answer at shortstop in Spring Training but, with the Arcia injury, he’s clearly the only and best option for the club to call up as injury relief.

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