Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia had a concerning moment on Sunday when he was hit by a pitch on his hand, raising fears of a potential injury. Fortunately, X-rays showed no fractures, but as a precautionary measure, Arcia underwent an MRI. The results of the MRI confirmed that there was no fracture, as reported by David O’Brien of The Athletic.
O’Brien also mentioned that Arcia is currently listed as “day to day,” which is reassuring news for the Braves, especially with the start of the season approaching.
Last season, Arcia secured the starting shortstop position during spring training after Dansby Swanson departed for the Chicago Cubs. He had an outstanding performance, earning an All-Star nod in 2023. Arcia’s impressive stats included a slash line of .264/.321/.420/.741, along with 17 home runs and 25 doubles.
The Atlanta Braves have shown their confidence in Orlando Arcia, evidenced by their decision to trade highly-regarded shortstop prospect Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox during the recent offseason. It’s worth noting, however, that the Braves also added veteran infielder David Fletcher to their roster during the same period. In the event that Arcia faces any time off during the regular season, although such a scenario seems unlikely currently, Fletcher could step in to fill the shortstop position.
As long as Arcia remains healthy, he is expected to start on Opening Day. While he may not be considered a superstar on a team filled with exceptional talent, Arcia played a significant role in the Braves’ success last season.
With Opening Day scheduled for March 28, Arcia has ample time to recover and ensure his readiness. We will continue to monitor his situation and provide updates as they become available.
