Cameron Maybin flew overnight to join the Braves in time for opening day, and his excitement wasn’t at all diminished by a lack of sleep.
“Definitely excited to be playing so close to home, playing for an organization that I grew up watching, grew up Tomahawk-chopping with,” said Maybin, an Asheville, N.C., native, who still makes that mountain town his offseason home. “It’s exciting. I get to be close, my family gets a chance to watch me, and I get a chance to help this organization do some special things.
“I know guys aren’t picking us, but you don’t win on paper, so I’m excited to be here. I bring a lot of energy, I play hard, and I’m looking forward to giving it all for Braves Country.”
He was notified he’d been traded while the Padres were in Los Angeles, preparing for their season opener. Maybin drove back down the freeway to San Diego, quickly packed a bag and caught a flight that got him into Miami at 6:30 a.m. Monday.
“But I’ve got a lot of energy right now,” he said. “I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to be here with the Braves and get this thing started off right.”
The Braves are expected to use the light-hitting center fielder for late-innings defense and potentially in a “soft platoon” with Eric Young Jr., though manager Fredi Gonzalez made it clear that Young is the primary center fielder. Maybin played for Gonzalez with the Marlins during parts of the 2008-2010 seasons.
Young earned the center-field job with his solid spring training, and for now he’s gone from temporary fill-in for Upton to permanent replacement, unless the Braves decide to go in another direction at some point during the season.
“He’s played well, he really has,” Gonzalez said of Young. “It gives you some flexibility (having Maybin), you’ve got a true center fielder. For example, if today we’re going to be winning 8-0 in the seventh, Kelly Johnson’s last at-bat, I put Cameron Maybin in center and I can move EY to left, and strengthen your defense a little bit. Nice to have that flexibility.”
A former top prospect, Maybin hasn’t had the career most had projected for him, batting .246 with a .309 OBP in parts of eight seasons. He’s owed $7 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016 and has a $9 million option with a $1 million buyout.
He said Gonzalez had not discussed a role with him.
“Not really, but my role everywhere I go is to be a spark,” said Maybin, who hit .235 with a .290 OBP, 18 extra-base hits (one homer) and three stolen bases in 95 games for the Padres last season, his speed having declined considerably since he stole 66 bases in 2011-2012. “I bring a lot of energy on both sides of the ball, defensively, offensively. And I’m healthy, which is great.
“Being able to play with Fredi in the past, I think I’m a much better player than I was a few years ago, just from experience. And I’m excited to play for Fredi again.”
Coincidentally, Maybin is a mentor to Braves outfield prospect Braxton Davidson, a first-round draft pick in 2014 out of T.C. Roberson High School, Maybin’s alma mater.
“Yeah, he’s a good buddy of mine,” Maybin said. “He was really excited when he heard, I think he was really the first guy to hit me up, I think before family, friends and everybody. Brax was really excited. I was, too. As well as another guy, (Braves minor leaguer) Justin Jackson; was a (Braves) free-agent signing this offseason. We’re all excited. Lot of (Asheville) hometown kids in the organization, and we’re excited about being here and hopefully all being together at some point.”
