The Atlanta Braves have announced that struggling second baseman, Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right wrist. This is the second piece of bad news Johnson has received this week. After Tuesday night's game, Bobby Cox announced that Martin Prado would take over as the starting second baseman for the Braves. Johnson, who is hitting .214 this season in 234 at-bats, has been mired in an awful 9-for-74 slump. Johnson's overall poor hitting, especially his .174 average against right-handed pitchers, combined with Prado's recent success forced Cox to rule out a platoon situation and give the job outright to Prado.
In 2008 Johnson averaged .287 with 12 home runs and in 2007 he hit .276 with 16 home runs. His wrist injury could explain some of his troubles at the plate this season.
The Braves purchased the contract of Brooks Conrad from Triple-A Gwinnett and added him to the 25-man roster. In 73 minor league games Conrad hit .259 with nine home runs and eight stolen bases. Conrad, who was just named to the International League All-Star team, has appeared in 46 games at second base and 19 at shortstop. It would seem he'll fill the role of utility, middle infielder for the time being.
