SportsFullCircle

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann has overcome the issues he had with his eye and is expected to play in today’s game against Philadelphia.

Two years ago, McCann has Lasik eye surgery and began to have blurry vision in his left eye shortly after the start of the season. He was placed on the 15-day DL on April 25th and then was later sent down to the minors. He successfully completed his injury rehab playing for Triple-A Gwinnett and Class-A Myrtle Beach.

He is ready to play tonight’s game against Philadelphia. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the starting lineup, ready to go. I’m excited to get back and join the team. I think everything is going to go great.”

Before being placed on the DL, McCann tried using contact lenses, thinking that that would solve the problem. Unfortunately, the lenses just caused dryness and irritation. While playing two rehab games for Myrtle Beach last week, McCann found out that wearing his glasses was a necessity.

“We tried about a million things,” said McCann.

Thursday, McCann received his special prescription Oakley sports glasses. Five hours after getting the glasses, he was in the lineup for Gwinnett in an International League game against Syracuse. He hit an RBI double in the first inning, helping Gwinnett win 4-0.

In the third inning, he was intentionally walked, robbed of a hit by Syracuse’s first baseman in the fifth, and then lined out to right field in the seventh. Despite batting one-for-three last night, McCann was still pleased by the way he play.

“It went good,” he said.

Even though trying to catch with his glasses on underneath his new, hockey-style catcher’s mask was a bit of a challenge, McCann threw out former Atlanta teammate Pete Orr, who was trying to steal second base. He also made a tag play at the plate for an out.

He was experiencing with his glasses last night, trying to see if he really did need them. He wore them for the first two innings, took them off for the next six, and then put them back on in the ninth.

“I tried to catch without the glasses there for a little bit. I’m going to have to come up with something where I catch and don’t let them fog up while I hit. I’m not used to taking the mask on and off. I kind of smeared the lens. I was going to try to go the rest of the game without wearing them. But I’m probably going to have to wear them when I catch,” McCann said after trying to play without his glasses during last night’s game.

He ordered a second pair of glasses that will arrive next week so he can switch out his glasses during a game.

“It’s been hard, very frustrating. But I think everything is taken care of now. I feel really good about it.”