Braves outfielder Jason Heyward underwent surgery today after he fractured his right jaw when he was hit in the face by a pitch from Mets’ left-hander Jon Niese yesterday. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal has the latest news on when we can expect to see him on the field again:
#Braves’ Heyward will miss the rest of the regular season, per his agent, Victor Menocal. Availability for post-season to be determined.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 22, 2013
Heyward was originally estimated to miss 4-6 weeks, so this isn’t exactly a surprising development. Mark Bowman of MLB.com notes that Heyward didn’t have to have his jaw wired shut after surgery, which is encouraging news for his ability to maintain strength during his rehab process, but he’s far from a lock to make it back for the postseason. And even if he does, it’s fair to wonder how the time off will affect him. Jordan Schafer and Evan Gattis will both be asked to take on larger roles in the Braves’ outfield moving forward.
