Loney likely will join Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was just a matter of when. The Braves inked Loney to a minors deal Thursday after Freddie Freeman (wrist) was hit by a pitch that will sideline him for at least two months. They feel they can get by with what they have on the big-league roster, though, so Loney will camp out until needed. They'll piece together work at first base with Rio Ruiz and Jace Peterson, who may also share third base until Adonis Garcia (Achilles) returns. That'll likely happen next week.