ATLANTA — Kyle Wright has missed most of the season with a shoulder problem.
It now appears that the Atlanta Braves right-hander will be out for the rest of 2024.
After Wright sat out the division series against Philadelphia, manager Brian Snitker revealed Wright had a setback before Game 1 on Saturday.
Wright underwent an MRI on Friday and will likely need surgery, which Snitker says could cost him the entire season.
It’s a blow to the Braves, who are making their sixth straight postseason appearance after winning 104 games in the regular season.
“I did a lot of rehab during the year with Kyle,” said pitcher Max Fried, who will start Saturday’s game after a series of injuries during the season. “We spend a lot of time together. We worked really hard to bounce back and fight, and I know he wanted to be a part of this moment in the playoffs, and that’s his goal.”
Wright, who led the major leagues with 21 hits last season, underwent a cortisone shot in January to deal with persistent shoulder pain that forced him to start the season on the disabled list.
He made his debut on April 11 and made five starts – 0-1, with a 5.79 ERA – before returning to the disabled list.
He was out for more than four months before returning on September 11. But he never looked like himself and allowed 10 earned runs, 11 hits, six walks and three home runs in seven innings in two starts against the Phillies.
Snitker moved him to the bullpen in the final week of the regular season, expecting him to be an effective reliever. Wright had great numbers but struggled to recover after each outing, leading the Braves to opt for a new rating.
“Kyle’s not feeling well,” Snitker admitted. “There will be a procedure to resolve it.”
Snitker did not provide details on the injury, but clarified that it was a major operation.
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