TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman left Sunday’s against the New York Yankees due to a bruised left thumb.
Freeman says he took a hard hit ball off the hand while playing defense.
“It’s precautionary,” Freeman said. “It caught me clean on the hand. There’s no point in trying to be a hero in spring training, especially when we’re getting close to the end.”
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Freeman struck out against Masahiro Tanaka during the first inning in his only at-bat. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the third.
Freeman agreed to a $135 million, eight-year contract last month. He hit .319 with 23 homers and 109 RBIs in 147 games last season.
Atlanta catcher Ryan Doumit left in the second with a bruised right middle finger and was scheduled to have X-rays taken on the hand. He was struck by Pete O’Brien’s foul ball.
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