While the two teams met in an interleague series at Turner Field, Detroit traded RHP Kris Keller to Atlanta for OF George Lombard. Lombard's rehab assignment had expired and he could no longer stay in the minors without passing through waivers, so the Braves had a choice of promoting him, potentially losing him on waivers without compensation, or trading him for small compensation.

The Braves drafted Lombard out of The Lovett School in Atlanta in the second round of the 1994 draft. He advanced through the minors with moderate power and good speed but with poor strike zone judgment. His walk rates eventually began to rise but they failed to match his 30% strikeout rates. The Braves sent him to the Arizona Fall League in both 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he left early with a sore left shoulder, and then in 1999 he returned with an inflamed bursa sac in his right foot.

He made brief appearances in the majors in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and was a strong candidate to make the team in 2001 as an extra outfielder. However, a foot problem in Spring Training prevented him from having a real shot. Lombard continued to struggle with setbacks, and in June of 2001, he had season-ending surgery to remove the sesamoid bone in his right foot. Then this spring when he was no longer having troubles with his foot, he tore his right calf muscle and is only now returning from the hamstring injury.

The trade was announced yesterday while Atlanta was taking batting practice before the second game of their series against Detroit. Lombard reportedly collected his things and moved to the visiting clubhouse where he met with his new manager and teammates. After a season and a half on the disabled list, Lombard will now have a chance at regular playing time in the majors at least until Bobby Higginson returns from his hamstring problem.

Higginson didn't start two games in Cleveland in late May in order to rest a sore left hamstring, but returned to the lineup for four games before missing another after having a wisdom tooth removed. He left the Tigers' June 8th game against the Phillies due to tightness in the hamstring, and after four days out of the lineup last week, Detroit placed Higginson on the disabled list retroactive to June 9th.

His return is not progressing fast enough for him to rejoin the team on Monday, but the Tigers do hope to have him back by July 2nd. However, they want to be cautious, as rushing his return could lead to a recurrence of the injury.

Detroit called up Ryan Jackson to replace Higginson on the roster, but then designated Jackson for assignment to make room for Lombard on the roster. Jackson will need to pass through waivers before going to AAA. He went 2 for 6 with a double, a triple, a walk, and two strikeouts during his time in the majors. The 30-year-old 1B/OF has bounced between AAA and the majors for the past four seasons. He has some power potential and a bit of speed but would have to improve his plate discipline to warrant longer stretches in the majors.

Kris Keller, the pitcher the Braves received for Lombard, went on the DL in late May with a strained right triceps. The 24-year-old right-handed reliever made his major league debut with the Tigers this season before going on the disabled list. As I mentioned earlier this month, Keller needs to improve his control before he'll belong in a major league pen. Atlanta has no reason to use him in their pen and will option him to AAA when he's recovered from his injury.

The Braves haven't needed to alter their pitching staff since Jason Marquis returned from the disabled list in early May. Atlanta's placement of Marquis on the DL in late April set off a series of pitching changes. The team first called up Jung Bong to replace Marquis on the roster.

Bong signed with the Braves out of South Korea as a nondrafted free agent in 1997 and is one of their most anticipated starting pitching prospects. He's demonstrated good skills in the minors so far, though prior to this season he had not pitched above A+ Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League. He started this season in AA and was only called up for an emergency start. Considering his inexperience against higher levels of competition, he pitched quite well in his one start, allowing 8 H in 6 IP with a 4:2 K:BB. After his start the 21-year-old lefty returned to AA Greenville in the Southern League, where he's posted a 52:23 K:BB in 60.2 IP while allowing 89 H and 4 HR. The numbers are a drop-off from those compiled against lesser minor league competition in seasons past but continue to indicate significant promise.

John Foster replaced Bong on the roster for a short time. Foster made his major league debut, a one-inning appearance in which he allowed no hits and had a 1:1 K:BB, but did not make any other appearances before he was sent to the minors when the Braves activated Albie Lopez from the disabled list. A 24-year-old left-handed reliever, Foster has definite potential but still needs to work on his control. Foster hadn't pitched above AA Greenville prior to this season. He started this season at AAA Richmond in the International League and has a 27:12 K:BB in 40.1 IP with 40 H and 2 HR allowed.

During April while the Braves struggled with multiple injuries to the rotation, Damian Moss established himself so that when Marquis returned from the disabled list, Atlanta placed Lopez in the bullpen and sent down Tim Spooneybarger. Spooneybarger had an 11:11 K:BB in his 18 IP in the majors with 16 H and 1 HR allowed. In 18 IP at AAA Greenville, he's allowed 13 H and 1 HR with a 19:7 K:BB. If he continues to pitch well at AAA, the Braves will likely clear room for the 22-year-old in the pen next season, especially if he can reduce his BB/9.

Despite infrequent usage, Lopez is pitching well for the Braves out of the pen. Marquis hasn't been bothered since his return by the shoulder tendinitis that landed him on the disabled list.

In contrast to the stability in the Braves' pitching staff since early May, Atlanta's middle infield took big hits in late May. First Mark DeRosa replaced Marcus Giles in the lineup so that Rafael Furcal could play second base instead of shortstop. Then almost immediately following that change, DeRosa seriously injured his ankle. He had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle May 21st and has only now been cleared to take part in regular drills. The Braves don't expect him to return until shortly after the All-Star break.

Giles should have been able to reclaim his playing time in DeRosa's absence, but a week later he suffered his own ankle injury and also went on the DL. He's made good progress recovering from a severe sprain to his right ankle. However, he's been otherwise occupied by more important matters as his wife gave birth to a baby girl, Lundyn Mae, 10 weeks early on June 3rd. The one-pound baby was in intensive care for two weeks and appeared to be improving but sadly died yesterday. Giles wisely delayed his rehab to stay with the baby and mother, and everyone should understand if he chooses to take his time returning.