Atlanta Braves Have Many Questions Heading Into 2016, Who’s At Third Base?
By Jeff Schafer
Thinking about the diamond for the Atlanta Braves in the 2016 season, most positions have a huge question mark…mostly all except for first base.
Third base for the Braves is the same story. But a different story in the sense that this position NOW on the depth chart, has much depth.
Right now, here is what we’re currently looking at for third base.
Yes, looking at those four names and comparing them to the cornerstone who was at third base for years, Chipper Jones, makes it difficult for the Braves fans.
First, look at Chipper’s stats in 2012, the last year he played in the major leagues…he had 387 at-bats, with 111 hits, while batting .287 with an OBP of .377. Chipper had 14 homeruns, while compiling 62 RBI’s, scoring 58 runs and stealing one base.
These are pretty solid numbers for a forty-year old player who was playing in his 19th season in the majors.
So without shedding to many tears, let’s move on and now look at the current depth chart.
Adonis Garcia will be 30-years-old when the season starts. In 2015, Garcia had 191 at-bats, with 53 hits and 10 homeruns. This translated into a .277 batting average and an OBP of .293. Garcia scored 20 runs and had 26 RBI’s, with no stolen bases.
Garcia has been tearing up the Venezuelan Winter Baseball League in 2015. After a 2-4 double and two runs scored game yesterday, he’s now batting .391/.440/.576 with three home runs, six doubles, a tripe, 15 RBIs and 17 runs. He’s helped the Navegantes del Magallanes to a 30-19 record.
Does a hot Winter League play and 42 games at third base for the Braves in 2015 warrant a starting job? It could with another strong 2016 Spring Training performance.
Hector Olivera will also be 30-years-old (31-years-old on April 5th) when the season starts. Olivera was obtained by the Braves on July 30, 2015 in the trade involving Alex Wood, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza and Bronson Arroyo to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Olivera was called up to the Braves on September 1, 2015 and with his time in the majors, he had 79 at-bats, with 20 hits and two homeruns. He had 11 RBI’s, scored four runs, but did not have any stolen bases. His OBP was .310, while his batting average was .253.
The question now is…does Olivera play left field or third base? Many believed he was heading to the outfield prior to the Ender Inciarte trade, but now the question arises once more what the Braves will do with Olivera. He tried his hand in the outfield during his short stint in Winter League and reports were out that he did well, but still hasn’t had that much time out there.
Gordon Beckham signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Atlanta Braves last Wednesday. He spent 2015 with the Chicago White Sox, batting just .209/.275/.332 over 100 games to go along with six home runs and 20 RBIs.
Beckham is from Atlanta, Georgia and attending school at the University of Georgia. A homegrown ball player who’s returning home…could this lead to a spark in his career?
He’ll most likely battle for a spot at second base in Spring Training, but could also see some time at third. The Braves will probably use his veteran bat off the bench.
Emilio Bonifacio, the newest acquisition for the Braves! He played in Atlanta during the 2014 season, but mostly in the outfield. Since those spots are mostly taken up, Bonifacio will probably try to use his skills in the infield for the Braves. He can play second base, third, short and all three outfield position.
He signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal yesterday with the Braaves. He posted a slash line of .167/.198/.192 in 82 plate appearances for the White Sox in 2015.
Though this wasn’t the sexiest pick up by the Braves, he will be very versatile for Fredi Gonzalez…which we’ll all grown to realize how much Gonzalez likes this.
Many questions are still yet to be answered for the 2016 season and third base is on that list. Olivera will be in the lineup, whether the Braves see him at third or left field. If the season started tomorrow, I’d have to give Garcia a shot and put Olivera in left.