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DEL.ICIO.USBetemit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
All those seasons there was the promise. From the time he was signed on his 16th birthday for a $40,000 bonus in 1996. The world was out there waiting, his new frontier. Then it was “from Braves Top Prospect” to trading bait, and while that may sound a bit harsh, John Schuerholz does say this:
“We never gave up on him, but I can’t say that we didn’t consider a trade.”
Thankfully, the Braves held onto Wilson Betemit, and at the end of the season a year ago, who was their leading hitter? Himself, average .305 in 115 games as a stand-in for the frail and wounded. And as far as regional notoriety was concerned, though, he might as well have been playing in the Union League. That’s often the fate of troops in waiting.
“I know I can play. I’m just filling in now, waiting for the right opportunity,” he said in the spring.
Opportunity has come his way again this season. Chipper Jones goes down. Betemit goes to third. Edgar Renteria goes down. Betemit goes to short. Any old time at any old place on the field, just call for Wilson. A rather Anglicized name for someone from the Dominican Republican. That’s his full name. “I’m just Wilson, that’s all,” he said.
“I’ve always had confidence in him,” the Braves chief said. “I saw him hit two home runs in a Futures game in Seattle. He always had a good swing, but he did have to fight through some injuries.”
Betemit arrived at Class AAA Richmond after three seasons that earned him Top Prospect rating, and there his star took a fall. He developed back problems. Then a ligament was torn in his right hand, and his batting average slipped from the .300s into the upper .200s. When he hit training camp in 2005, it was last call. Make it or hit the road. He had worn out his options, and that was in his favor, especially when Rafael Furcal and Jones had to sit out some early games. It was then the Braves realized the “top prospect” had arrived, a little behind schedule, but ready. He had had a good season in the Dominican winter league to build on, and wherever the Braves put him, he performed.
He is not one to grab attention, nor create a clubhouse stew. To the contrary, he is a gentle man, easy smile, the kind of attitude that curries favor with Bobby Cox. No manager could ask more than Betemit has given the Braves playing his waiting game.
“I know I can play, I want to play, and I don’t care where, but I know it takes patience. I’ve developed a lot of that since I’ve been here,” Betemit said.
Then came the performance on national television Sunday night in Washington. Martin Prado and Pete Orr on base, Betemit up to face the Nationals’ leading reliever, Gary Majewski. It was not a violent swing, but at liftoff the ball was headed out of town. The three-run homer won the game, and Terry Pendleton, the hitting coach, continued telling anyone who’d listen, “He’d be playing every day for a lot of teams in this league.”
Shortstop is his native position, but his best asset is that he can play anywhere, and will. Well, you can eliminate pitch and catch, but I’m just trying to make a point. The former “top prospect” has now become the real thing.
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