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2017 Atlanta Braves Season Preview: Chase d’Arnaud

By Alex Burke

Sep 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Chase d'Arnaud (23) signs autographs before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Chase d'Arnaud (23) signs autographs before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chase d’Arnaud is not a name that gets mentioned very much (at all) by fans and pundits who are discussing what to expect for the upcoming Atlanta Braves season.  However, with the ability to play almost any position, he could get a shot at some playing time this year.

Chase d’Arnaud is a utility guy. Plain and simple. He’s not Ben Zobrist or even Brock Holt, but he’s a guy that the Atlanta Braves can and have plugged in for a resting or injured player. He will most likely spend the 2017 season doing the same thing.

2016 Season

It’s hard to call Chase d’Arnaud’s 2016 season a disappointment because there were literally no expectations for him going into the season. Before last season, he had a career grand-total of 166 at-bats. He was 29 on Opening Day.

In 2016, d’Arnaud was primarily the backup shortstop and third baseman for the team, however, he played just about everywhere at least a little bit. If you go to Chase d’Arnaud’s baseball-reference.com page and look at “position,” you’ll see, “654/789.” This means that he played every single position in the field outside of pitcher, catcher, and first base.

Did he play any of them well? Not particularly. However, I do think there is some value in being able to play just about anywhere the manager asks on any given day.

If there is, then this is where d’Arnaud’s value lies because outside of an actually fairly hot month of May in which he hit .320, d’Arnaud’s offensive stats were, well– not good. His 2016 numbers by month were as follows:

  • May: .320/.414/.440 (.854 OPS) in 17 games (58 PA).
  • June: .250/.308/.321 (.629 OPS) in 25 games (91 PA)
  • July: .211/.258/.333 (.591 OPS) in 16 games (62 PA)
  • August: .189/.273/.243 (.516 OPS) in 17 games (44 PA)
  • Sept/Oct: .200/.429/.200 (.629 OPS) in 7 games (7 PA)

Clearly, d’Arnaud hit a brick wall at some point in June. He went from being a serviceable backup to essentially just a warm body that filled an open spot here and there and could pinch-hit.

Also, his playing time took a big dip in the second half of the season. This is due to a number of different reasons, but  mainly the acquisition of Matt Kemp, the call-up of Dansby Swanson and the healed hamstring of Ender Inciarte. At that point, d’Arnaud wasn’t really needed.

2017 Predictions

It’s easy to say that d’Arnaud will see less playing time than he did last season, but in all honesty, there’s perhaps a chance that he doesn’t (for better or worse).

According to MLB.com’s Depth Chart for the Braves, d’Arnaud is not only the first backup at shortstop, but he is the same for first base, as well.

MLB.com either knows something that I don’t or is completely off here. It’s hard for me to believe that d’Arnaud would be the first option to replace a resting or injured (*knock on wood*) Freddie Freeman. But, for the sake of prediction, let’s say that MLB is right.

More from Tomahawk Take

All it would take for d’Arnaud to pass his 2016 at-bat total would be either Freeman or Swanson to miss some time or for him to get a lot of pinch opportunities (or both).

If neither miss any significant time, however, then d’Arnaud will almost certainly see less than 166 AB’s. With the additions of Rio Ruiz, Brandon Phillips (+ Albies soon), Kemp, and the potential for Coppy to pick up a real outfielder to back up the three OF spots to the 25-man roster, d’Arnaud isn’t the guy to be plugged in in the outfield, third base, or second base. Oh, and there’s this guy named Jace Peterson who has the same role as d’Arnaud and is much more consistent.

As far as predictions go, I don’t think it’s worthwhile to try to slap some numbers on d’Arnaud’s name. I think d’Arnaud this season is similar to what A.J. Pierzynski‘s role was last season. With the addition of others and with the lack of consistent productive play, d’Arnaud could very well see himself have a very limited role in what is more than likely his last season with the team.

The one major difference there, clearly, is that Pierzynski was 39 and played one position and d’Arnaud is now 30 and can play multiple. Is it possible that d’Arnaud turns himself into a mainstay by becoming a Brock Holt-type player? Maybe. It is going to happen? Probably not.

Next: Atlanta Braves Pre-Season Player Preview: Brandon Phillips

Note: After a year in which the Chase d’Arnaud Band performed after a Braves game and dropped their first album, I, for one, I am interested to see how the CdB progresses this year.

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