LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – After the Braves got outfielder Ender Inciarte from the Diamondbacks in December as part of the blockbuster trade for Shelby Miller at the winter meetings, Inciarte and Braves bullpen coach Eddie Perez exchanged text messages.
They both are from Maracaibo in Venezuela, and Inciarte played for the winter league team managed by Perez in 2014.
“When we got him I texted him,” Perez said, “and he texted me back and said, ‘Hey, don’t let me go.’ Because there was talk that he might get traded again.”
Perez’s next text was to Braves general manager John Coppolella.
“I texted Coppy, ‘Please, keep him here,’” Perez said, smiling. “(Inciarte) is my boy. I love him. Good player.”
Inciarte, 25, hit .303 with 38 extra-base hits (six homers) and 21 stolen bases in 2015 in his second full season in the majors, with a .338 OBP and just 58 strikeouts in 561 plate appearances. Despite shifting between all three outfield positions he ranked fourth in the National League with a 2.6 defensive WAR — ahead of former Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (2.0), among others.
“He’s from my hometown, what do you expect?” Perez joked. “I’ve known him since he started to play Little League. His dad also played professionally.”
For the full story on Inciarte’s arrival at spring training Monday and his outlook on the Braves season and future, use this link or go to myAJC.com.
