Oh, how the times have changed. I never thought I would say these words again — I’m so glad Ender Inciarte is back. After hitting the Injured List with a hamstring injury, the Braves activated the three-time Gold Glove centerfielder today. They also placed Cristian Pache on the IL, who also suffered a hamstring strain while trying to beat out a grounder in yesterday’s game.
The #Braves today returned OF Ender Inciarte from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list. The club also placed OF Cristian Pache on the 10-day IL with right hamstring inflammation.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 14, 2021
It is disappointing to say, but Pache has been downright abysmal this season. He’s hitting just .111 with a .358 OPS, leading to -0.6 WAR. His OPS+ is an almost unfathomable -6. Nobody expects Inciarte to return and be an All-Star like he was in 2017, but he’s undoubtedly the better option right now. Before the injury, his slash line was a respectable .294/.368/.353.
Hopefully, Pache can heal quickly, but even when he’s healthy, I don’t expect him to return to Atlanta. He needs more at-bats in AAA to figure things out, and there is nothing wrong with that. He’s still just 22-years-old and has only played 26 games in Gwinnett over his career.
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