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Braves' Upton to miss remainder of spring training with foot injury

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Melvin Upton Jr. will have to watch the rest of spring training from the dugout.

The Atlanta Braves announced Friday that a foot injury will consign the 30-year-old to a cast for the next two weeks after which Upton will wear a walking boot for four-to-six weeks. The former first-round pick could resume baseball activities in early April and Mark Bowman of MLB.com indicates that Upton isn't expected to return to the lineup until May 1.

According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Upton was diagnosed Friday with sesamoiditis (inflammation in the bone behind ball of foot) after experiencing discomfort in his left foot during his team's first full-squad workout Thursday in Orlando.

Upton, who will earn $14.45 million in 2015, hit .208/.287/.333 (75 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 173 strikeouts over 141 games last season. In his absence, the Braves will likely have Zoilo Almonte, Todd Cunningham and Eury Perez compete for playing time in center field.

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