Rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons left Sunday's win over the Phillies with a fractured pinkie finger on his throwing hand and is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Monday. According to a report by Atlanta Journal Constitution writer Carroll Rogers injuries like the one suffered by Simmons can take a while to heal.
Injuries of this nature can require four to six weeks to heal and even longer if surgery is required. The Braves wouldn't speculate on a how much time Simmons might miss before he sees Lourie, but given that it's a fracture, it's a significant injury to a player who's become an important part of the team in a short amount of time.
That is terrible news for a Braves team that enters the All-Star break with the momentum of a five-game winning streak. In the short term Atlanta could call up Tyler Pastornicky and split the time between he and Jack Wilson or the team could look to add a shortstop at the trade deadline. Neither situation is ideal but it is a decision that will have to be made after Simmons sees the doctor on Monday.
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