Braves Diaz Done For Year, Simmons Getting Closer, Other Injury Updates

There are lots of walking wounded around the Atlanta Braves these days. Here is a run-down of all the injured players, and their status:

Matt Diaz: Matty-D is apparently done for the year after undergoing a second thumb surgery. He would need two months of recovery time, which would put any possible return well into October. The wound on his thumb had not healed properly, and it was becoming too painful to grip a bat. This is still the remnant of splinters he got while clearing brush in his yard back in 2009. Luckily the Braves acquired Reed Johnson, who should more than make up for the loss of Diaz.

Andrelton Simmons: Simba got the cast off his hand a week ago, and is close to resuming full baseball activities. His hand is still sore, but he should be on target to return at the end of this month, or just after rosters expand in September.

Jack Wilson: He was removed from his minor league rehab assignment last week, and kept on the 15-day disabled list, after apparently suffering a setback, though it's not clear what that setback was. His original injury was a dislocated right pinky finger. With Paul Janish in the mix at shortstop, Wilson's presence on the roster is not really needed. Whether he returns this year or not should not have any impact on the Braves.

Tommy Hanson: The right-hander will be activated from the disabled list this Friday to start against the Dodgers, forcing the Braves into a six-man rotation. He only needed one rehab start in triple-A, which was a fantastic 3-hit, 5-inning shutout, with 5 strikeouts. He is recovering from a lower back strain, but I would more accurately say that the Braves just wanted to hold him out a few starts to let him recharge his batteries, and possibly rediscover some of his velocity.

Jair Jurrjens: He has been out with a right groin strain. He made a rehab start on August 10th, and is scheduled to start again for Gwinnett this Wednesday. It's a good bet that with six men already in the Atlanta rotation, Jurrjens will be optioned back to the minors when his rehab stint is over. He represents good (and expensive) depth in the minors for the rotation, but I don't expect to see him in the Atlanta rotation ever again, unless injuries force the team's hand this season. He'll probably be back in the bullpen when rosters expand in September.

Let's hope these are these are all the injuries the Braves have to deal with this year.