A.J. Minter has been absent from the Braves’ lineup since late May, following a game against the Washington Nationals. The team initially reported that he was suffering from “hip inflammation.” The expectation is that Minter will be ready to return as soon as he is eligible after completing the mandatory 15-day stint on the injured list.

 

 

However, Minter’s return has been delayed beyond the initial 15-day IL period, as it has now been three weeks since his injury. According to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Minter appears to be nearing a return. Toscano reports that Minter threw a bullpen session on Monday and is set to throw live batting practice on Wednesday in Rome against hitters from the Braves’ High-A affiliate. He is scheduled to pitch in a rehab game for Rome on Saturday.

Toscano also disclosed that Minter’s injury was more severe than initially reported. Instead of just hip inflammation, Minter has been dealing with a hip impingement, which explains his prolonged absence and the slight decrease in his velocity this season.

Obviously, the velocity has been down a little bit this year,” Minter said, according to Justin Toscano. “I was trying to tell the trainers, ‘I just can’t use my legs real well.’ They looked at it and did all the tests they do, and I was getting a little bit of irritation with any external rotation in my hip.