Coming into the season I thought no way that the Braves were going to keep three catchers on the roster once C Brian McCann returns from offseason shoulder surgery. I figured while McCann was out, Gerald Laird would be the everyday catcher with rookie Evan Gattis as his backup every fifth or sixth start just to give Laird a breather. Since Laird was a seasoned veteran he would have the nod, and once McCann returned, Gattis would be shipped back to the minors. Wow, I was so wrong and every sportswriter in the nation blew it as well.
All Gattis did was impress during spring training and caught the eye of everyone. Manager Fredi Gonzalez had to keep Gattis's bat in the lineup. So while McCann was out, the role was reversed. Gattis was the everyday catcher while Laird backed him up. All Gattis did in the everyday role was hit .300 and hit mammoth home run shots. With McCann back, Gonzalez has still tried to keep his bat in the lineup by playing him as catcher, left field, and DH when playing an American League team. Gattis's bat has cooled a bit with not playing everyday because of McCann's return, but he is still a force when in the batter's box. And cooled off means down to .285. He has the team's second most homers at 12, with Justin Upton first with 14. But with the way Gattis is going so far, and with J. Upton struggling right now with the long ball, Gattis might surpass Upton in homers at the end of the season. Gattis is also tied with 1B Freddie Freeman in RBI's at 32 coming into today's ballgame. The decision is going to be at season's end what to do. McCann's contract is up. Do the Braves resign the hometown favorite and use Gattis as backup and platoon him in left or first base as well? Or do they keep both team favorites in the starting lineup and find an everyday position for Gattis? I know what I would do, but it's not my decision to make. In thisYouTube clip courtesy of mlb.com, Gattis shows why the Braves have made a great investment in him, and so far not letting the team down.
The story of a one Mr. Evan Gattis is overwhelming and heartfelt all rolled into one. For the past four years Gattis has been homeless and living out of his van and hostels. While living out his dream of playing baseball he suffered from depression that made him want to take his own life, which ultimately led him to lose his desire to play the game that he loved. Before he made the Atlanta Braves 25-man roster earlier this spring, he was working as a custodian in Dallas, TX. While doing that, he tried to get his love back for the game of baseball while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and hoping to get noticed. And noticed he did, by one of the storied franchises of all of baseball. Gattis's teammates while in the Venezuelan Winter League nicknamed him 'El Oso Blanco,' which means 'The White Bear.' Gattis hovers over the plate and doesn't look like he has a weak swing in him. And when he hits the ball yard, it's not a weak over the fence homer, the ball goes 400 plus.
This past weekend while Gattis and the Braves were playing the NY Mets in Queens, he told a story that made me just say 'WOW' when I heard it. He told the story that the last time he was in NYC, he was at LaGuardia Airport asking for money so he could buy a hamburger. A passerby heading back home overseas gave him the change he had in his pocket because American money would do him no good back home. Gattis said he never thought that the next time he was in NYC he would be playing in the majors and have no money worries. I imagine the trip back last weekend was bittersweet for him because, for all that have ever flown into LaGuardia Airport know, the airport is in Queens and is only minutes away from Citi Field where the NY Mets play. Citi Field can actually be seen from the tarmac at the airport. So if Evan Gattis ever has a hitting or fielding slump, and it will happen. I guarantee that he will not get down on himself. He has been in much worse places in his life than a batting or fielding slump, and is just happy to be living out his dream.
So here's to Mr. 'El Oso Blanco' continuing his success with the Braves, and hopefully for many, many years to come. This 27-year old rookie has won many hearts throughout baseball, from fans to players to the media.
Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.
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| Atlanta Braves Evan Gattis: Photo/msn.foxsports.com |
The story of a one Mr. Evan Gattis is overwhelming and heartfelt all rolled into one. For the past four years Gattis has been homeless and living out of his van and hostels. While living out his dream of playing baseball he suffered from depression that made him want to take his own life, which ultimately led him to lose his desire to play the game that he loved. Before he made the Atlanta Braves 25-man roster earlier this spring, he was working as a custodian in Dallas, TX. While doing that, he tried to get his love back for the game of baseball while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and hoping to get noticed. And noticed he did, by one of the storied franchises of all of baseball. Gattis's teammates while in the Venezuelan Winter League nicknamed him 'El Oso Blanco,' which means 'The White Bear.' Gattis hovers over the plate and doesn't look like he has a weak swing in him. And when he hits the ball yard, it's not a weak over the fence homer, the ball goes 400 plus.
This past weekend while Gattis and the Braves were playing the NY Mets in Queens, he told a story that made me just say 'WOW' when I heard it. He told the story that the last time he was in NYC, he was at LaGuardia Airport asking for money so he could buy a hamburger. A passerby heading back home overseas gave him the change he had in his pocket because American money would do him no good back home. Gattis said he never thought that the next time he was in NYC he would be playing in the majors and have no money worries. I imagine the trip back last weekend was bittersweet for him because, for all that have ever flown into LaGuardia Airport know, the airport is in Queens and is only minutes away from Citi Field where the NY Mets play. Citi Field can actually be seen from the tarmac at the airport. So if Evan Gattis ever has a hitting or fielding slump, and it will happen. I guarantee that he will not get down on himself. He has been in much worse places in his life than a batting or fielding slump, and is just happy to be living out his dream.
So here's to Mr. 'El Oso Blanco' continuing his success with the Braves, and hopefully for many, many years to come. This 27-year old rookie has won many hearts throughout baseball, from fans to players to the media.
Don't forget to follow me on twitter @makirkley.
 |
| Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley |
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