The Braves signed Sean Rodriguez with the intention of adding a starting second baseman and versatile chess piece to their defense. A car accident involving Rodriguez and his family stalled that vision.
Rodriguez worked his way back to join the active roster in July. But Saturday, the Braves traded Rodriguez back to the Pirates, who he played with in 2015 and 2016.
Rodriguez had become expendable because of the rise of rookie infielder Johan Camargo. Camargo entered the season low on the totem pole of Braves prospects, but quickly battled his way into the team’s present and future plans.
Camargo serves the role once intended for Rodriguez. His hot start also made it easier for the team to demote rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson, being that Camargo had taken his playing time.
But general manager John Coppolella’s recent trade didn’t give Camargo any additional confidence.
“I really try not to focus on things like that,” he said through an interpreter. “As always, my focus is on giving my best out there on the diamond, my maximum effort, continue to improve. Obviously it’s sad to see Rodriguez go. We have a good relationship, and I enjoyed playing with him. He always gave me good advice and help me grow and develop. So it’s sad to see him go, and I appreciate everything he did for me, but unfortunately sometimes that’s just baseball.”
Camargo was in the midst of a five-game hitting streak entering Saturday’s game. He was hitting .357 (5-for-14) on the current homestand. The switch-hitter is batting .300 on the year, with 54 hits, 19 RBIs and three homers. He hit .405 in his first 15 games after he was promoted June 3.
“Offensively, I always put in the kind of effort to continue to improve on it, so that’s never really changed,” Camargo said. “I just continue to try to improve, get my reps in at work. That’s been a constant as always.”
On defense, Braves third base coach Ron Washington has made a difference, according to Camargo.
“But defensively, I can say the work I’ve done with Wash has definitely paid off and is part of the reason I’ve had so many improvements on the field,” he said. “It’s been a great focal point. It’s been excellent to have him around and to be able to work together.”
Now, Camargo gets to play alongside his best friend, fellow infielder and rookie Ozzie Albies.
“It’s funny because we always dreamed and talked about how we wanted this to play out, for us to eventually play next to each other in the big leagues,” he said. “We’d always joke and talk about it, and now it’s happening in the big leagues. I couldn’t be happier. I’m just enjoying the moment, and I’m glad we’re here spending it together.”
