LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Joey Terdoslavich doesn't know about his chances to make the Braves' opening-day roster, but he's confident that his work during winter ball in the Dominican Republic can only help now and for the future.
After seeing mixed results primarily off the bench as a Braves rookie, Terdoslavich thrived in a regular role in th Dominican, where he hit .291 with a .340 on-base percentage and seven extra-base hits (two triples, two home runs) in 86 at-bats over 24 regular-season games for Toros del Este.
He got invited back to play for Aguilas in the playoffs and was a torrid 23-for-70 (.329) with four doubles, six RBIs and a .386 OBP in 16 games, the league’s second-best postseason batting average.
The switch-hitter’s performance in the D.R. is one reason the Braves say they’re comfortable for now with the depth they have after releasing corner infielder Mat Gamel, a left-handing-hitting former Brewers prospect who reinjured his twice-surgically-repaired right knee while running last week.
“Terdoslavich went out and had a heck of a winter ball, and really continued to impress people,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.
“It was a good experience – good competition, and nice to experience that culture,” Terdoslavich said. Regarding his performance, he acknowledged, “Yeah, I did well.”
It was his first time playing winter ball, and his impressions were similar to those of Evan Gattis when the Braves catcher played in the the Venezuelan winter league a year ago.
“The intensity,” Terdoslavich said. “I didn’t realize the way the fans were down there. They have unbelievable passion for the game. They get loud the whole game.”
Of a playoff game at Licey, he said: “Loudest place I’ve ever been. I’ve been in ‘The Swamp’ (University of Florida’s football stadium) when LSU played there. I’ve been to playoff games. I’ve been a lot of places. And that was the loudest stadium I’ve ever been in.”
If the Braves needed someone to fill in at third base for any significant stretch in the event of an injury, utility man Ramiro Pena would be the guy. Ryan Doumit or possibly Gattis could fill in at first base for a game or two if needed. But Terdoslavich might be a first-base candidate if a longer-term injury replacement were ever needed.
He played first base in the Dominican playoffs, after playing right and left field during the winter-ball season. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said that Terdoslavich will get some work at catcher in spring workouts and perhaps catch a few innings in split-squad games or even at Triple-A Gwinnett, to give him more versatility for the future.
Terdoslavich hit just .215 with four doubles and a .315 OBP in 79 at-bats last season for the Braves, including 4-for-30 as a pinch-hitter. It’s worth noting that as an outfielder, he hit .300 (12-for-40) with three doubles and a .404 OBP.
“Terdo had a great spring last year,” Gonzalez said. “We had an opportunity to bring him during the year and play him at probably a hard role for a young player, coming off the bench. But to his credit, he went down to winter ball and played. He got close to 200 plate appearances. Here’s a guy that will do whatever it takes to stay up here…. He’s a nice piece for us.”
