Freeman likely out through All-Star break

ATLANTA -- When Freddie Freeman was placed on the disabled list, the Braves knew there was a chance he would be sidelined through the All-Star break. One week later, this possibility is looking more like a probability.

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The Braves are not ruling out the possibility that Freeman will be healthy enough for him to be activated before they head into the break after a July 12 game in Denver. But at the same time, they understand it might be wise to give him some extra time through the break to rest his right wrist injury, which has sidelined him since June 18.

"[Freeman] plays every single day, he's frustrated," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He wants to get back on the field, but he understands this might take a little more time."

Though Freeman is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, the Braves have never viewed this as a realistic target date for his return. Gonzalez said it is too early to set a return timetable for the 25-year-old first baseman, who had played a Major League-high 243 consecutive games before being sidelined by this injury.

Freeman is dealing with a painful bone bruise around his right wrist. The injury is similar to the ailment that sidelined Joey Terdoslavich for nearly two months after he fell on his wrist during a Spring Training game.

Terdoslavich might have needed additional time because his injury was caused by impact. Freeman started feeling his discomfort while taking batting practice before a June 14 game at Citi Field. He played the entirety of three games before the injury forced him to make a sixth-inning exit during a June 17 game against the Red Sox.

"[The wrist] is just not improving," Gonzalez said. "They're trying different treatments. Hopefully, something will work and we can get him going."

Freeman received a platelet-rich-plasma injection last week. Doctors have recently prescribed these injections to stimulate the healing of damaged soft tissue and bones.

The Braves entered Tuesday having averaged 2.1 runs per game since Freeman was sidelined. They averaged 5.1 runs during the 16 games that he was in their lineup this month.

Freeman was batting .299 with 12 homers and a .887 OPS when he was placed on the disabled list. He hit .375 with five homers and a 1.196 OPS in the 12 games he played this month before the wrist began bothering him.