Believe it or not, the Atlanta Braves have been playing much better baseball recently. After an 0-7 start, they’ve gone 10-7 in their last 17 games. While they may have faced some weaker competition, a win is still a win. Atlanta recently won two out of three games at home against the St. Louis Cardinals, following a three-game home sweep of the Minnesota Twins. So, what’s sparked the Braves’ offensive surge?
A key factor has been the call-up of veteran outfielder Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Gwinnett. Verdugo, who signed with the Braves late in spring training, needed some extra time to prepare for the MLB season. While not a perfect player, Verdugo excels at making contact with the ball, something that Atlanta’s center fielder, Michael Harris II, has struggled with.
David O’Brien of The Athletic highlighted how Verdugo has positively influenced Harris’ approach at the plate. Primarily, Verdugo has taken over the leadoff spot, pushing Harris further down the lineup. As both are left-handed hitters, Verdugo has been able to offer advice to Harris on improving his performance against left-handed pitchers. Verdugo’s dedication to honing his craft has made a noticeable impact.
The initial expectation was that Jurickson Profar would provide a boost to the Braves’ offense, but it has been Verdugo who has stepped up recently.
As for Harris, people often forget that he’s still relatively young, despite winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2022. He has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons and likely hasn’t had as many at-bats at the Double-A or Triple-A levels. For example, he never played for the Gwinnett Stripers before making his major league debut. Although I’ve been critical of Harris this season, he’s only 24, and like me, he’s from the Atlanta area. I’m hoping for the best, as only he can make a substantial impact for the team.
In contrast, Verdugo, who is not much older than Harris, has been in the majors since 2017. Having played for high-profile teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, Verdugo has always been under the spotlight. Now with the Braves, he’s proven to be a valuable asset. While I still believe Verdugo is not the ultimate solution, he has certainly provided some relief to the roster.
