It was just a glance.
A quick look toward the stands offered Tyler Pastornicky a reminder of how far he had come. When the Braves rookie got his first major-league hit in the season-opener against the Mets he turned to see family and friends reacting wildly to his accomplishment.
Welcome to the majors, kid.
“That’s a feeling you only get once,” Pastornicky said. “It was pretty awesome.”
In a sense, the moment was also a reminder of how far there is to go for the young shortstop. One of the biggest questions facing the Braves this season was how successful they would be entrusting a key position to a 22-year-old with no major-league experience. At the one-quarter mark of the 2012 campaign, there have been ups and downs for Pastornicky. His production – offensively and defensively – has not hindered the NL-East-leading Braves.
“[With] a career in the major leagues there is always going to be ups and downs,” Pastornicky said. “I don’t think anyone ever is going to figure it all out. It’s always a learning process. I think you are just trying to make it as smooth and as consistent as possible. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and soak it all up on how to become more consistent.”
Pastornicky had just 104 at-bats at Triple-A Gwinnett last season after a call-up from Double-A Mississippi. Here he is hitting .275 (33-for-120) with 11 RBIs through the first 42 games as a big-leaguer. The season didn't start well offensively, despite the opening day single. He was hitting .175 after an 0-for-5 performance against the Diamondbacks on April 20. Manager Fredi Gonzalez sat the shortstop for two straight games and he had only a pinch-hit assignment in the next contest, a strikeout that dropped his average to .171.
However, Pastornicky was back in the lineup the next day and he went 3-for-3 with a walk. Since then, Pastornicky has appeared in every contest except two, including Sunday against the Rays. He has started 20 of the 24 games and is hitting .288 (26-for-79) with two three-hit games and a current eight-game hit streak.
“I got some confidence back and I’ve been swinging the bat all right lately,” Pastornicky said. “It’s always a constant adjustment. I’m never going to be satisfied. I think it’s going all right but I’m looking to try to become more consistent.”
Pastornicky has batted at the bottom of the lineup for all but one game this season. He led off earlier this week when Michael Bourn was rested. Pastornicky went 1-for-5 from the top spot, a place Gonzalez sees him batting in the future.
It hasn’t always been smooth defensively for Pastornicky this season either. He has four errors in 107 chances. He has made several mental errors, not uncommon for a young player said veteran infielder and his Braves’ mentor Jack Wilson. The two worked out together prior to the season and have been almost inseparable since.
“He doesn’t really need that much help but when he does have questions, I’m happy to answer them for him,” Wilson said. “For the most part, he’s done it on his own because he’s pretty smart and he knows the game of baseball.”
Defensive positioning has been the biggest adjustment and learning curve at the major-league level, said Pastornicky. Unlike much of his time in the minor leagues, he now must learn where to play each batter based on his tendencies. There are also adjustments to be made based on who is pitching and as the count changes.
“Once you get up here it’s something everybody does,” Pastornicky said, explaining how important positioning is to sound defense. It’s something I’m learning and hopeful I can continue to pick it up and pick it up fast.”
Wilson said it took him two or three years to get a full handle on the defensive process.
Pastornicky came to spring training as the heir apparent to the starting shortstop job after the Braves did not re-sign Alex Gonzalez. He ended up having to work for the position when he got a strong challenge from Andrelton Simmons, who was eventually assigned to Mississippi and his hitting .296 through 34 games.
Once Pastornicky got full grasp of the challenge he faced in Florida, he started making the strides Braves coaches and management were hoping to see in order to entrust him with the shortstop job.
“When it started to become a competition, my game picked up,” Pastornicky said. “I like that. I like having to play with pressure. It made me a stronger person to go through that.”
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