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Suzuki appears to avoid DL, hopes to return this week

Suzuki

The Maui News

Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki said Saturday that tests on his hurt right hand came back negative and he hopes to play again early this week.

In a media interview posted online by Fox Sports, Suzuki said his hand is still swollen a day after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of the Braves’ 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

“It’s starting to feel a little better, just haven’t gripped a bat or thrown a ball yet, so that’s the next step,” the Baldwin High School graduate said.

Suzuki is expected to make the bulk of starts while the other half of the Braves’ catching platoon, Tyler Flowers, is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique he suffered in Thursday’s season opener. Suzuki said he hopes to return Monday or Tuesday against the Washington Nationals; the Braves have an off-day today.

After getting hit a career-high 13 times last season, Suzuki was beaned in both Thursday’s and Friday’s games.

“On pace for a pretty good record right now, 2-for-2 so far,” he joked. “But I don’t know, pitchers are throwing harder now with a lot more movement and balls tend to run up and in. It’s all part of the game. You know, it’s one of those things, you try to get lucky and hopefully it’s not hitting in a bad area.”

Suzuki, playing in his 12th major league season, had a good spring training during which he hit .357 (10-for-28).

“I was pretty disheartened last night, obviously, the way I was feeling after spring training … everything was just kind of clicking and I was looking forward to getting off to a good start this year,” he said. “So fortunately now that nothing’s bad, hopefully just take a couple days and get right back at it again and get back on the horse.”

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