Just as the Braves are trying to make a push for an NL wild card berth catcher Evan Gattis has been knocked out of the lineup because of illness.
It’s been an inopportune time for the Braves to be without one of their best sluggers for eight games in a row. But one possible silver lining of that bad luck is they’ve gotten another extended look at Christian Bethancourt as the regular catcher.
Bethancourt has started seven of the eight games while Gattis recovers from what the Braves said is a case of strep throat. Playing time is invaluable for Bethancourt, 23, as he tries to make the transition from touted prospect to major-league regular.
“He’s played well,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “It hasn’t been surprising. I can’t say that because we’ve seen him mature as a hitter. Obviously I think two years ago he could have caught in the major leagues but the offense stuff comes a little slowly. He’s done a nice job, but not surprising.”
The Braves signed Bethancourt an amateur free agent in 2008 and he quickly moved up their prospect rankings in large part because of his defensive potential. He showed significant improvement at the plate this season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
The emergence of Gattis last season allowed the Braves to be patient with Bethancourt. A roster spot opened up for Bethancourt when Gattis went on the disabled list with a back injury in July and he was already on the roster as a September call-up when Gattis fell ill last week.
During his first stretch with the Braves this season Bethancourt started 11 games and hit .233 (10-for-43) with a .267 on-base percentage. In his latest big-league stint Bethancourt has started eight games and hit .321 (9-for-28) with a .321 on-base percentage.
For the season, Bethancourt is batting .269 (21-for-78) with a .296 on-base percentage. Those would be good numbers for a catcher if Bethancourt could do it for an extended period.
But producing consistently for several months is the challenge for major league players. Gonzalez said Bethancourt will have to learn to deal with slumps.
“There is going to be a point in time—whether another four games from now or two months into next year—the league is going to catch up, the league is going to figure (him) out,” Gonzalez said. “Then it’s how well can he make an adjustment. Then there’s other stuff that comes along with being a young prospect that everybody has touted to be in the major leagues, and that’s first time you handle failure in the big leagues and the microphones are on you and it’s ‘Hey, how come you are 0-for-12?’
“And there’s really no other way than to let him go through it.”
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