Pinch hitting has long been considered one of the tougher jobs in the major leagues and the domain of experienced veterans. Braves rookie Evan Gattis is stomping all over that conventional wisdom.
Gattis did it again Monday, belting a three-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning of a 7-6 loss against the Padres. It was his 14th home run in only 156 at-bats, including a stunning four homers in eight at-bats as a pinch hitter.
“That’s special,” teammate Jason Heyward said. “You kind of think you’ve seen everything you’re going to see in the game, and then someone like him comes along and does what he’s been doing, man.”
Heyward had his first multihomer game of the season Monday, adding a two-out solo shot in the ninth after Gattis came off the bench and gave the Braves a chance with one mighty swing. Gattis, 26, already has become something of a folk hero among Braves fans in the South and everywhere the Braves go, and teammates seem thrilled.
“I’m happy for him,” Heyward said, “and proud to call him a teammate.”
Gattis, a catcher who has played left field and a little first base, got plenty of playing time while Heyward was on the disabled list for 3 1/2 weeks after an appendectomy. Since Heyward returned May 17, Gattis has made a start or two a week at catcher, plus an occasional outfield start and pinch-hitting.
Some doubted Gattis could remain productive or get enough at-bats in such a mixed role, but he’s managed to not merely survive, but absolutely thrive.
Since Heyward came off the DL, Gattis had played in 17 of the Braves’ 24 games and was 13-for-41 (.371) with one double, seven homers, 17 RBIs, and a .854 slugging percentage before Tuesday.
It’s the pinch-hitting prowess that has people searching for adjectives. He was an astounding 6-for-8 as a pinch hitter, with a double, four homers and 11 RBIs — twice as many homers and five more RBIs than any other major league pinch-hitter — through Monday. This from a guy who said he only had one pinch hit in the minors.
“I don’t know I don’t know how or why it’s working out the way it is,” said Gattis, who already tied the Braves’ single-season record for pinch-hit homers since moving to Atlanta — Tommy Gregg had four in 51 pinch-hit at-bats in 1990 — and is one behind the all-time franchise season record by Butch Niemann in 1945. The major league record is seven.
“This guy is unbelievable,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who believes Gattis’ short, compact swing has been a key to his pinch-hitting success. “You can run him in there against anybody. You don’t have to try to match him up and find a lefty-righty combination.”
Gattis hit .263 overall with 11 doubles, 14 homers and 37 RBIs in 50 games before Tuesday, with more homers than singles (16). And while Gattis had 156 at-bats, the other 15 major leaguers with 14 or more homers all had at least 210 at-bats.
Gattis (.603) was one of four National League hitters slugging over .600 in 150 or more plate appearances, and the only non-Colorado Rockie. He had homered every 11.14 at-bats, while major league home-run leader Chris Davis had 20 in 228 at-bats, or one every 11.4.
