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 in the future.
After seeing mixed results primarily off the bench as a Braves rookie, Terdoslavich thrived in a regular role in the 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 was 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.
Those performances by the switch-hitter are one reason the Braves say they’re comfortable with the depth they have after releasing corner infielder Mat Gamel, a left-handing-hitting former Brewers prospect who reinjured his right knee that twice was surgically repaired.
“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.
His impressions of the Dominican were similar to those of Braves catcher Evan Gattis in 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.”
Of a playoff game at Licey, he said: “Loudest place I’ve ever been. I’ve been in (the University of Florida’s football stadium). 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 need someone to fill in at third base for any significant stretch in the event of an injury, utility man Ramiro Pena is the guy. Ryan Doumit or 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 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 work some 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 only .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.”
Medlen gets head shaved: His hair was as long as he'd had it since he was 5, but Kris Medlen sacrificed his locks for a good cause Wednesday. In front of the dugout before the Braves' first full-squad workout, he had his head shaved as part of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research's "#RallyVsCancer" challenge.
Medlen also pledged up to $20,000 of his own money to help kick-start this year’s drive. He and his wife, Nikki, have become Atlanta advocates for the group after longtime Rally spokesman Brian McCann signed a free-agent contract with the New York Yankees. McCann will continue to work with the foundation.
In an event televised live on an Atlanta morning show, Medlen had his head shaved, with cancer survivors wielding the clippers. Afterward, Medlen’s 1-year-old son, Max, seemed confused and then amused when he touched the bald head.
Medlen donated $10,000 to the cause and will match the first $1,000 raised by up to 10 groups or individuals who have similar head-shaving events. For more information, go to www.RallyVsCancer.org.
TV games: The Braves' spring-training TV schedule includes games on SportSouth against the Cardinals on March 13, the Tigers on March 21 and March 27, and the Red Sox on March 22; on Fox Sports South against the Mets on March 23 and the Astros on March 24, and on ESPN against the Tigers on March 25. Additional games will be carried on MLB Network, which hasn't released its schedule.
