SARASOTA, Fla. – Without coming right out and saying it, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez again made it clear Friday that veteran Kelly Johnson, one of the “Baby Braves” in 2005 and a non-roster invitee this spring, has won a spot on the opening-day roster.
Johnson had another good night going 1-for-2 with an RBI single and two walks and splitting time between third base and first base in a 3-2 loss to the Orioles in the Braves’ penultimate Grapefruit League game. His two-out single in the eighth trimmed the lead to one run.
“Kelly gets a base hit with people on base, he puts the ball in play,” Gonzalez said. “He’s really done a terrific job. You can put him in different positions in the outfield, both corners of the outfield, both corners of the infield and even second base. He gives you good at-bats, he gives you some flexibility. So it’s good. Good for him. He came in here. I think we talked, it might have been in late January, about giving him an opportunity. He’s taken every advantage of it.”
Johnson has hit .308 (16-for-52) with seven extra-base hits (two homers), nine RBIs and a .446 on-base percentage. He’s expected to have a bench job and get plenty of starts in left field against certain right-handers when Jonny Gomes is out of the lineup.
Gonzalez planned to meet with coaches on the bus ride back to Braves camp after Friday night’s game to discuss their final roster decisions, though the manager said there really was only one bench spot left to decide. He plans to announce the roster Saturday, before or after the Braves’ Grapefruit League finale against the Orioles.
Barring a late trade or waiver claim, the Braves will likely carry Alberto Callaspo and Phil Gosselin as backup infielders, and Johnson and either Joe Benson or Todd Cunningham as backup outfielders. A.J. Pierzysnki will back up rookie catcher Christian Bethancourt.
It’s been clear for several weeks that rookie Jace Peterson has won the second-base job and Eric Young Jr. has won the center-field job.
The bullpen appears to have five certainties: closer Craig Kimbrel, setup men Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli, and lefties Luis Avilan and newcomer Andrew McKirahan.
Hard-throwing rookie Juan Jaime also seems a lock for a spot because he’s out of options and has a high-90s fastball. Jaime has pitched well in the past week and struck out three of four batter he faced Friday, fanning a trio of the Orioles’ lineup regulars: Adam Jones, Travis Snider and Everth Cabrera.
The last bullpen spot is likely a long-relief role with two candidates: prospect Mike Foltynewicz and rookie Cody Martin.
