First Time In Years: Braves Healthy Heading into Spring Training

By Kevin McAlpin

Brian McCann Returns ti the Braves this season, healthy and ready to go! (Photo: 680 The Fan)

For the first time in years, the Braves are reporting to Spring Training a healthy group. Brian McCann, Josh Donaldson, Mike Soroka and Dansby Swanson were among a number of players that missed time last year due to injuries. But as pitchers and catchers reported on Friday, one of the big topics of conversation was the lack of an injury report.

“All the pitchers we’re bringing to camp, I’m not sure there’s a 60 day DL in the whole group, everybody’s in the program where it wasn’t the case last year” Brian Snitker said on Friday morning. Mike Soroka, who missed a few months last season with a sore shoulder, has already thrown six bullpen sessions and is set to throw another on Saturday. Brian McCann, bothered by a sore right knee in 2018, said he feels as good as he has in years. “I feel great” McCann said this morning. “Two years ago I had a decent year. Last year, I couldn’t push off the knee. I had no chance to hit” McCann said of his injury issues last season in Houston. With as strong as he’s feeling here in the middle of February, McCann said he feels like he will be able to catch 100-115 games in 2019.

Many position players are expected to file in over the course of the weekend and early next week, and with that will come both Josh Donaldson (calf/shoulder) and Dansby Swanson (left wrist) also were slowed by nagging injuries a year ago, but both are expected to be full go when they arrive to Orlando. Obviously, a lot can change over the next six weeks, but the Braves are hoping this is a good omen of things to come over the next seven months.

Kevin McAlpin has covered the Braves since 2012 for @680TheFan and the @BravesRadioNet

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