Adonis Garcia has been among the best hitters for the Braves so far this season but his shaky defense at third base has offset that production.
Garcia went 2-for-4 against the Dodgers on Thursday but committed two errors on four chances during the 2-1 loss (10 innings). Entering Thursday Garcia had committed four errors in 22 chances to rank last in the majors in fielding percentage (.818) among regular third basemen.
Garcia didn’t play third base regularly from 2011 to 2014 in various winter leagues or the minors before the Braves moved him there full time at Triple-A Gwinnett last season. He played 42 games at third and 10 in the outfield for the Braves in 2015 while tying for second on the team with 10 home runs.
“He’s not a third baseman; he plays hitter,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “But he works with (coach Terry Pendleton) at it every single day. We are trying to make him a third baseman. I think that he will hit enough that you will feel comfortable (playing him). Late in the game when we’ve had leads we’ve been taking him out for defensive replacements.”
Garcia committed his first error early against the Dodgers. It led to the only run (unearned) allowed over 6 2/3 innings by Braves right-hander Matt Wisler.
With one out in the first inning, Garcia cleanly fielded Corey Seager’s ground ball but threw wide to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Seager later stole second base and scored on Joc Pederson’s two-out single.
Garcia also booted A.J. Ellis’ ground ball to lead off the seventh inning. That error didn’t prove as costly because the next batter, Charlie Culberson, hit into a double play that was started by Garcia. The Braves ending the inning with no runs allowed when right fielder Jeff Francoeur threw out Clayton Kershaw at the plate.
“I feel like I’ve made some errors on routine plays,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “I’m still trying to work and improve and do my best playing at third base.”
Garcia ranks second among Braves regulars in batting average (.280) and slugging percentage (.472) and third in on-base percentage (.379).
