Major League Baseball

Medlen to have MRI on his hip

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:10 a.m. ET

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Braves pitcher Kris Medlen was scheduled to have an MRI on his hip Thursday, Braves general manager Frank Wren said Thursday.

Medlen missed the last two months of the season after undergoing ligament transplant surgery on his right elbow. But Wren said he has had lingering hip pain dating back to a start he made in Los Angeles in early June.

Medlen is not expected back from rehab until August or September of next season at the earliest. He was 6-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 31 games last season for the Braves, including 14 starts.

Who is Luis Valdez?

Braves minor league pitcher Luis Valdez never made it from his native Dominican Republic to the U.S. for spring training or at all last season because of visa problems. Now the team knows why.

He was not who he said he was, Wren said Thursday. Valdez's actual given name, apparently, is Jairo Asencio. He originally signed under the name Valdez, declaring himself a few months older than he was, Wren said.

As Valdez, he had 27 saves for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2009. Asencio, 26, is still under the Braves contractual control and is expected back in the minor league system next year.

Lee played injured

First baseman Derrek Lee played the last two months of the season with a torn thumb ligament, Wren said. His thumb injury was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in September, but Lee did not want to acknowledge the extent of it. Wren said Lee first jammed his thumb on Opening Day with the Cubs in Atlanta. It had improved when he was traded to the Braves on Aug. 18, but he tore it about a week later.

Lee played the rest of the season with an injury, which was more severe that what kept Jason Heyward out of action for three weeks and hindered him the six weeks prior.

"Bobby [Cox] and [trainer] Jeff Porter both said this is one tough guy to play with what he's playing with," Wren said.

Lee, who becomes a free agent this fall, still hit .287 with three homers and 24 RBIs in 39 games for the Braves.