Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Braves center fielder B.J. Upton exited Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning after taking a ball off his left knee while playing the field.
Upton was trying to make a sliding catch on Todd Frazier's sinking line drive and had the ball hit off the heel of his glove and then carom off his knee. The ball rolled to right field, and Frazier legged out a triple as Upton lay face-first on the grass in obvious pain.
After making it back to his feet, Upton left the field under his own power, albeit with a limp. The Braves announced he was suffering from a right adductor muscle strain.
Upton came in batting a putrid .177 with eight homers and 20 RBI since signing a large free agent contract with Atlanta last offseason.
His departure left the Braves switching their outfield around. Justin Upton moved from left field to right, Reed Johnson switched from right to center and Joey Terdoslavich came off the bench to play left and replace the injured center fielder.
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