Martin Prado Sent to DL with Staph Infection; Braves Recall Brandon Hicks

Martin Prado has landed on the Atlanta Braves' disabled list with a staph infection on the right calf according to David O'Brien. The infection started after a routine scrape from a slide, and was cleaned out today by Dr. Gary Lourie.

The DL stint follows a left knee injury resulting from a throw that hit him as he was stealing, but the infection is what puts him on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday. O'Brien describes the surprise:

Prado missed the past two games with what the Braves termed a contusion of the left knee, which was swollen when he woke Wednesday. Prado said Thursday that he expected to return to the lineup Saturday or Sunday.

Neither the team nor Prado had said anything about the problem with his infected right calf. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Prado reported that his  calf felt much better Thursday, but a Miami doctor examined him later Thursday and was concerned that the infection had worsened.

This the last thing the Braves need, according to Martin Gandy of Talking Chop.

"This is a big blow to the Braves (duh!). Last year Atlanta was able to cover up some of these injuries with All-Star utility man Omar Infante. This year there doesn't seem to be anyone ready to step in and pick up the slack of two lineup regulars being on the disabled list (Prado and Jason Heyward).

Add to that the lineup void that currently is Dan Uggla, and the Braves are playing with half an offense right now, not to mention Nate McLouth is also on the DL and not likely to return for at least another week."

"Perhaps now is the time to make a trade for an outfielder, seeing as how the team's entire starting outfield is on the disabled list," writes Gandy.

In the interim, Brandon Hicks will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Prado's spot in the lineup.