Braves’ tomahawk chop chant is under review

The Atlanta Braves say they have no plans to follow the lead of the Washington NFL team and change their team name.

“We will always be the Atlanta Braves,” the team said in a letter to season ticket holders on Friday. The letter was obtained by The Associated Press on Monday.

The tomahawk chop chant used by Braves fans is under review.

The team said in the letter it is seeking input from the Native American community, fans, players and former players as it examines the fan experience, including the chant.

Washington announced Monday it will change its name and Indian head logo.

The Braves say they have established a “cultural working relationship” with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and formed a Native American Working Group.

JAYS WILL WEAR PATCH HONORING FERNANDEZ >> The Blue Jays will honor the late Tony Fernandez by wearing a patch with his No. 1 on the left sleeve of uniform jerseys this season.

A member of Toronto’s 1993 World Series champions who had nine RBIs in the sixgame win over Philadelphia, Fernandez had kidney problems and died Feb. 16 at age 57.

He is the Blue Jays’ career leader in games (1.450), hits (1,583) and triples (72). He spent 12 seasons with Toronto in four stints and had a .288 batting average and 2,276 hits over 17 big league seasons.

SANDOVAL RETURNS TO ANGELS >> Los Angeles Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval is back with the team after contracting coronavirus last month.

Sandoval disclosed his positive test Monday from the Angels’ summer camp, calling the virus “unlike anything I’d ever felt before.” He says he tested positive on June 22.

CARDINALS RELIEVER HICKS OPTS OUT OF PLAYING; HAS DIABETES >> Hard-throwing St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks has opted out of playing this season, citing preexisting health concerns. The 23-year-old Hicks was diagnosed in high school as having Type 1 diabetes.

BLACH NEEDS TOMMY JOHN SURGERY >> Baltimore Orioles left-hander Ty Blach will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, and shortstop Richie Martin will have an operation on his right wrist that will sideline him for two to three months.

Blach went 1-3 in five starts with the Orioles last year after spending three-plus seasons with the Giants.