WASHINGTON – Christian Bethancourt was in the indoor batting cage Saturday morning, just the struggling rookie catcher and Braves hitting coaches Kevin Seitzer and assistant Jose Castro. Seitzer was talking to him about not trying to hit every breaking ball out of the ballpark, just trying to swing for base hits, and Bethancourt appeared to be listening intently.
“Just getting my swing ready for the game,” Bethancourt said a short while later, when asked about the session. “Nothing else.”
The message, he said, was “Don’t try to do too much. Try to use my hands, try to get back in my approach and I should be alright.”
After hitting well in spring training, Bethancourt had just a .159 average, .196 on-base percentage and .227 slugging percentage in 13 games before Saturday, with three doubles, two RBIs, two walks and eight strikeouts in 44 at-bats.
Meanwhile 38-year-old catcher A.J. Pierzysnki, the presumed backup entering the season, was batting .323 with three homers, 14 RBIs and a .356 OBP and .508 slugging percentage in 17 games and has been the primary catcher since about the second week of the season.
With Pierzynski cooling off recently, Bethancourt has gotten more playing time, but hasn’t capitalized on the opportunities. He was 3-for-26 (.115) with no walks, no RBIs and five strikeouts in his past eight games before Saturday, when he made his fourth start in nine games — after starting only one of the previous eight games.
“Just not being patient at the plate,” Bethancourt said of his offensive woes. “Try to get more quality plate appearances, try to use my hands more, I should be alright.”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked Saturday when it might take to get Bethancourt going, to get him back in the approach he had at the plate during spring training.
“I think it’s just getting some at-bats,” Gonzalez said. “Spring training is spring training. And we’ve talked about this before: I’m not worried about batting averages. I’m more concerned about catching well and calling a good game. The batting average stuff will come; he’s a talented guy.”
Bethancourt got the start Saturday with Julio Teheran pitching for the Braves because the two have worked well together in earlier starts this season. Teheran had a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings with Bethancourt pitching before Saturday, and a 7.20 ERA in 15 innings with Pierzynski.
Gonzalez wasn’t convinced of a cause-and-effect there — Teheran got rocked for six runs in the first five innings Saturday — but figured if Teheran was more comfortable then he’d use that battery for the time being.
Alex Wood also has a marginally better ERA with Bethancourt catching, while Braves starters Shelby Miller and Eric Stults have better ERAs with Pierzynski pitching. Mike Foltynewicz has only made two major league starts.
“That’s the key — not only to work with Julio, but with Shelby, Alex, Foltynewicz, Eric Stults, all the starters,” Bethancourt said. “It’s a process. I work well with Woody, too, because I had him through the minor league system so. It’s kind of easier with those two guys than the other guys. Shelby just came in a trade; Folty, also. And Eric Stults (came as a free agent). So it’s taking more preparation with those three guys.
“Hopefully it will come. I know it will come. It’s a long season, and hopefully we get to work more often and I can try to help these guys have a really good season.”
