Evan Gattis to return for Atlanta Braves on Monday

Update: The Braves have announced that Gattis will be activated, with Bethancourt heading to triple-A.

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It has been nearly a month since the Atlanta Braves had the benefit of inserting Evan Gattis in the middle of the batting order, but on Monday night, that is expected to change, as Gattis will be activated from the disabled list. The 27-year-old catcher has been on the disabled list since June 27th as a result of a bulging disc in his back, but after appearing Gwinnett over the weekend, all appears to be well.

Joe Morgan of MLB.com quoted Fredi Gonzalez as saying that he “expects” Gattis to be in the lineup on Monday evening:

"“He had six at-bats [on Sunday], so I’m thinking he’s good,” Gonzalez said. “I expect him to be here tomorrow and in the lineup tomorrow.”"

Prior to the injury, Gattis was setting the world on fire at the plate, and in all honesty, he likely deserved a spot on the 2014 All-Star team for the National League. In 243 plate appearances across 63 games, Gattis has posted a .290/.342/.558 slash line with 16 home runs, and with more than acceptable defense, he has quickly become one of the best catching options in the National League.

It will be interesting to see how the Braves handle Christian Bethancourt, who performed quite well in place of Gattis, but because of the presence of both Gerald Laird and Ryan Doumit, it would seem likely that the youngster is headed back to the minor leagues. Evan Gattis will be a sight for sore eyes in the middle of the Atlanta lineup, and if all goes according to plan, his presence will be welcomed back on Monday.