Three Atlanta Braves players that need to step up
By Josh Mathews
The Atlanta Braves are like any other baseball team. Players will slump. Some will underperform and some become pleasant surprises.
As the team heads down the stretch into August and September, we are going to take a look at three Atlanta Braves that need to step their game up going forward.
Johan Camargo
Simply put, we need Johan Camargo to revert back to his 2018 form. One of the biggest surprises of the Atlanta Braves 2018 season.
He picked up the third base job from Ryan Flaherty and never let it go, hitting .272 with 19 homers, 76 RBI and 27 doubles.
This production was in less than a full season’s worth of at bats, 464 of them.
The 2019 edition of Camargo was relegated to bench duty after the Atlanta Braves signed free agent Josh Donaldson, where he was presumed to join Charlie Culberson in oodles of super-utility greatness.
However, that’s not how it’s gone for the 25-year old Panamanian. He’s managed just a .217 batting average with four homers and 23 RBI over 203 at-bats.
Since Dansby Swanson went on the injured list on (date), Camargo got an opportunity to fill in, but has struggled mightily, and drawn the ire of fans who feel as though he doesn’t hustle at times, or doesn’t really seem to be engaged in the game.
As of August 6, he’s gone just 5 for 43 (.116) with one walk and one RBI in starting duty.
Here’s the deal with Johan. If you look at his minor league numbers from 2015-2017 he played three full seasons, never batting more than .267. He totaled 12 home runs before his made his major league debut.
How could we really expect Camargo to replicate his 2018 numbers?
I’ll say this too, Atlanta Braves fans can have some pretty farfetched opinions, but I have to agree that at times, he doesn’t really seem to be… paying attention? It’s hard to say, but something is there.
Now, I know adjustments happen, and not getting regular at-bats has probably hurt him, but Johan, buddy, we need you.