When it rains, it pours—but for once, the Atlanta Braves might’ve dodged the storm instead of standing directly under the downpour. Amid a brutal week of injury news, the team is holding out hope that Nick Allen’s hand injury will turn out to be more bruise than break.
A Lucky Break Without the Break
Allen took a heater off the knuckles during Thursday’s 9-3 win over the Phillies last week. And just like that, every Braves fan in the building sucked in a breath and waited.
You know that look—when a guy swings, flinches, and the pitch hits flesh instead of bat. It looked bad. The kind of bad that ends seasons or at least drops a key piece of your infield for a couple of months. But not this time.
Manager Brian Snitker all but said it himself: “We’re fortunate he didn’t break anything.” Considering the exit velocity and where the ball landed—right on the knuckles—that’s not just good news. That’s borderline miraculous.
Allen’s still dealing with swelling and is being monitored day-to-day. The earliest he might return is Sunday, though it depends on how the hand feels by then. In a pinch, he might even be available as an emergency option. But let’s be honest—no one’s trying to rush this.
Shortstop Shuffle
The Braves are getting a lift from utility man Luke Williams in the meantime. He’s taken over shortstop duties and has quietly been a steady presence. In his short stint, two hits, a double, and a pair of RBIs? That’ll play. Especially when you’re dealing with a roster that just DFA’d Orlando Arcia and is hanging by a thread at that position.
What makes Allen’s availability even more crucial is that top shortstop prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. is also out, dealing with his own wrist injury. You can just about hear the sigh of relief from Atlanta’s front office. One more shortstop down, and they’d be making late-night calls to the minors or scanning waivers for help.
Braves’ Injury Avalanche
Allen’s hand scare capped off what was already a punishing stretch for the Braves. AJ Smith-Shawver? Out for the year with a torn UCL. Stuart Fairchild? Broken pinky. So yeah, this wasn’t just about Allen—it was about holding on to whatever healthy bodies the Braves still have.
Luckily, it sounds like Allen won’t be gone long. And with Williams holding the fort in the meantime, the Braves might’ve caught just enough of a break to stay on the rails.
In a season that’s already teetering on chaos, sometimes “not broken” is all the good news you need.
