ATLANTA — Matt Adams was eager to hit, looking for a batting cage as soon as he unpacked his bag at his new locker in the Atlanta Braves’ clubhouse.

One day after he was acquired from St. Louis, Adams made his Braves debut Sunday against Washington, starting at first base and hitting fifth. He finished 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

Adams takes over for Freddie Freeman, sidelined for about 10 weeks because of a broken left wrist sustained Wednesday when hit by a pitch from Toronto’s Aaron Loup.

Adams started only two games at first base and five in left field this season as the Cardinals made Matt Carpenter their starter at first base.

“I’m not trying to come in here and be Freddie,” Adams said. “That’s not who I am. I’ve just got to be myself and go out there and play. I’m just excited to get the opportunity and I’m going to try to run with it.”

Adams was hitting .292 with one homer and seven RBI with St. Louis. His only homer came at Atlanta’s SunTrust Park on May 6 against Julio Teheran. The park’s short right-field fence, 325 feet at the foul pole, is attractive to left-handed hitters like Adams.

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“I’ve got to do a good job of just staying gap to gap and not trying to get too pull-happy,” he said. “Just stick with my game the way I’ve been doing and I think things will fall in place.”

Atlanta’s initial choice to fill in at first base was utility infielder Jace Peterson. The addition of Adams, acquired for minor league infielder Juan Yepez and cash, gives the Braves a more established option to provide protection for cleanup hitter Matt Kemp.

Adams, 28, has a .271 career average with 56 homers and 271 RBI.

WHITE SOX: Chicago has taken another major step in boosting its farm system by adding Cuban outfielder Luis Robert, according to reports from Yahoo Sports and the Chicago Tribune.

The White Sox reached a deal with the 19-year-old amateur free agent Saturday, the first day he was eligible to sign after months of waiting and working out for teams in showcases and private sessions. The club did not confirm the news.

Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan reported that Chicago would pay Robert a signing bonus of just more than $25 million, and the total cost to the Sox with overage taxes would be more than $45 million.

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ASTROS: The team placed catcher Brian McCann on the 7-day concussion disabled list.

Houston isn’t sure exactly when McCann was injured, but Manager A.J. Hinch said McCann told the team he wasn’t feeling like himself on Saturday. He was then evaluated by a doctor, who diagnosed him with a concussion.

ANGELS: Looking to reinforce an injury-ravaged pitching staff, Los Angeles signed right-hander Doug Fister to a major league contract.

Fister will report to extended spring training in Arizona to begin workouts. He was a free agent after going 12-13 with a 4.64 ERA in 32 starts for Houston last year.


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