If ever a movie is made about Evan Gattis’ life (the way he’s going, it might be) then what happened Wednesday could be a climactic scene.
Gattis was told he made the Braves’ opening-day roster, bringing to fruition the catcher’s once-improbable dream of playing in the major leagues. The big Texan teared up when manager Fredi Gonzalez told him he made the team.
“Definitely a day I’ll remember forever,” said Gattis, 26. “It finally happened. I’m trying not to get too excited yet, even though I’ve already cried and everything else.”
Now he’s a prospect with a splendid nickname, El Oso Blanco (“The White Bear”), which Gattis earned while leading the Venezuelan league in slugging and homers last winter. But not long ago, he was a young guy with an uncertain future, searching for — in his words — meaning to his life.
He was out of baseball nearly four years, after walking away from a Texas A&M scholarship without attending a class. He battled depression, anxiety and substance abuse and traversed several western states doing odd jobs, from cook to janitor to ski-lift operator, while seeking out new-age philosophers and spiritual advisors.
After getting the itch to play baseball again, he spent a year of college at Texas-Permian Basin and was drafted by the Braves in the 23rd round in 2010.
Upon learning he made the team Wednesday, Gattis made three early-morning phone calls, the first to his girlfriend of four years, Kim Waters.
“She wanted to be the first to know, and I told her I’d call her before my dad,” said Gattis, who then called his father, Jo, and mother, Melinda. All were in Dallas. Gattis said they’ll try to come to Atlanta for Monday’s opener against Philadelphia.
“Tough ol’ Oso Blanco shed some tears a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “He was excited. We were excited. The whole coaching staff was excited for him.”
Just two years ago, Gattis didn’t make the Class-A Rome roster out of spring training, instead toiling in extended spring training until there was an opening.
Now he’s on the major league opening-day roster and might play as many games as veteran catcher Gerald Laird, or more, until starter Brian McCann returns from shoulder-surgery rehab, probably in late April or early May.
“Try not to get too excited and just go play ball,” Gattis said. “I’ll be pinching myself when I’m there.”
Staying hungry for more success won’t be a problem, he said.
“I don’t think that’s going to change,” said Gattis, whose ultimate goal wasn’t just to make the team. “Absolutely not. I want to stay. I hear it’s harder to stay.”
Using a distinctive crouched stance, feet spread wide, the ferocious swinging Gattis has been has one of the Grapefruit League’s top hitters, batting .357 (20-for-56) with five doubles, six homers and 16 RBIs. He ranked among major league leaders with a .736 slugging percentage before Wednesday.
Five hours after learning he made the team, he homered off Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler.
“We know what he can do offensively,” Gonzalez said.” I didn’t tell him he was going to be the backup guy. … He could split time with Laird right down the middle. Maybe he could even get more time (than Laird). I wasn’t by any means saying he was going to be the backup catcher.”
When McCann returns, the Braves might keep Gattis as a third catcher and left fielder.
“So many things can happen by then,” Gonzalez said. “You can carry three catchers if everything’s going well. I didn’t even go that far with him, because I don’t know myself.”
The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder hasn’t played above Double-A, but has hit for average and power everywhere the Braves have sent him, including .303 with 16 homers in 195 at-bats in Venezuela, where his .595 slugging percentage was 44 points better than anyone else’s.
Gattis came to camp as a non-roster invitee to compete with Christian Bethancourt and Matt Pagnozzi for a backup job. It became apparent that Bethancourt wasn’t ready, and Gattis’ offense outweighed any defensive advantage Pagnozzi might have. Pagnozzi was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Gattis’ defense has been a pleasant surprise to many who expected it to be serviceable-at-best.
“Is he going to go out and win the Gold Glove? Probably not,” Gonzalez said. “But he’s good enough where he’s not going to cost you the game (on defense).”
Gattis has 933 minor-league plate appearances, with a .308 average, 44 homers and a .920 OPS. His background came to light last spring when he was a non-roster invitee to camp after hitting .322 with 22 homers in 88 games at Rome in 2011.
