NORTH PORT, Fla. — Eli White hopes to be someone who impacts the game in three phases – offense, defense and speed.
He plays terrific defense. He runs really well. The bat, however, must come along a bit.
“I’ve had success in the minor leagues, obviously – it just hasn’t translated over to the big leagues,” he said.
Since debuting in 2020, he has hit .185 with a .556 OPS. In 351 at-bats, he has three home runs. Over 1,700 at-bats in the minors, he has a .774 OPS.
Over the offseason, White, acquired from Texas for cash, worked hard on swing changes and mechanical adjustments that he believes could put him in a better position to succeed as a hitter.
He cleaned up his bat path. He also reworked his hand path. Last year, he would drop his hands before moving them forward when trying to hit the ball, which left him exposed to high fastballs. He worked on keeping a straight line to the ball with his hitting coach back home.
“It’s something that I knew was going on during the season, but it’s kind of hard to make changes during the season,” White said.
He felt like he was on the right track last year, but suffered an injury. He only played in 47 big-league games in 2022.
Now, he’s hoping his offseason work shows up this season.
“I’m confident in my ability to put it all together and have a good offensive season,” White said.
White is part of a group of outfielders fighting to make the opening-day roster this spring. Left field is wide open.
He might never hit for a ton of power, but his adjustments could help him hit more consistently. Plus, his defense and baserunning could make him an attractive complement to bat-first guys like Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario.
As he has struggled in the big leagues, White has tried not to lose confidence.
“It’s definitely a battle,” he said. “I feel like this game is such a mental game. Having that confidence is huge, having that confidence in your abilities, and every time you step in the box, you try not to have any self-doubt.”
White said he’s confident his offensive tweaks will make a difference. He saw how his swing looked heading into the offseason and how it looks now. Now, he’s working with Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes, who have developed a good plan for him going forward.
“It’s going to be a process,” he said. “I’m not expecting to be Barry Bonds coming out of the gate, but I’m confident that I’m on the right path.”
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Cortisone injection delays Kyle Wright
Kyle Wright is a bit delayed to start spring training after receiving a cortisone injection in his right shoulder last month.
Wright will throw a bullpen session Friday. He’ll continue ramping up from there, though it’s unclear when he’ll make his first Grapefruit League start.
The Braves expect him to be stretched out enough to be on the opening-day roster, but they don’t yet know which rotation spot he’ll occupy.
In 2022, Wright led MLB with 21 wins – three more than anyone else. He posted a 3.19 ERA in his breakout season.
Orlando Arcia comes into camp with confidence – and humility
Orlando Arcia is the other guy in the shortstop competition.
It seems like Vaughn Grissom will be the starter if he doesn’t completely fall on his face this spring. But as manager Brian Snitker and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos have said, Grissom must win the job. That means he has to show he can do it and validate their belief in him.
But Arcia is the other option, and publicly, Snitker and Anthopoulos have always lauded him. After all, Arcia did help the Brewers win the division as their starting shortstop at one point.
So how confident is Arcia that he can win the job?
“I would say that the confidence is always there, but there’s no need to abuse it, take advantage of it,” Arcia said through interpreter Franco García. “Really, it’s about coming in, getting the work done and doing everything you can.”
Arcia said he’s been focused on everything – the defense, hitting and staying healthy this season. Last year, he posted a .733 OPS and tallied some big hits for the Braves. He plays great defense.
For now, there’s still a competition for the shortstop job.
“Honestly, I feel like I have the mentality every spring training to just come in and just try to make the team,” Arcia said. “It’s a nice opportunity and I’m always going to try and compete for the starting job.”
Brian Snitker on President Carter’s card
Days ago, the Carter Center announced that President Jimmy Carter, a Georgia native and huge Braves fan, entered hospice care at his home in Plains.
On Monday, reporters asked Snitker about Carter, who has attended Braves games over the years.
This cool nugget came out of that: One year after the Braves won the division, Carter sent manager Snitker a personalized congratulatory card.
“I thought, ‘My God, this is pretty cool,’” Snitker recalled.
