JUPITER, Fla. — Former Braves center fielder Jordan Schafer, trying to make it back to the majors as a pitcher and two-way player with the Cardinals, struck out three of the four Braves he faced in the seventh inning Thursday.
Among his strikeout victims were Adam Walker, who had a first-inning home run off Adam Wainwright, and third-base prospect Rio Ruiz, who had a three-hit game in the 9-4 Braves loss. Schafer, 30, also drew a walk batting against Braves reliever Blaine Boyer.
Schafer, a left-hander with low- to mid-90s fastball and a sharp slider, has allowed two hits in two scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. Those who follow the Cardinals say he has a chance to make the team as the final pitcher in the bullpen and last guy on the bench — a guy who can play some in the outfield and pinch-run when needed.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “ He’s in the strike zone probably more than I thought he would be. Feel and touch. The off-speed stuff was really good. I had forgotten that he pitched last year, too.”
Schafer posted a 4.93 ERA in 40 appearances (two starts) at three minor league levels with the Dodgers in 2016 in his first year as a pitcher.
Once the Braves’ top prospect, Schafer was their opening-day center fielder as a rookie in 2009 and hit .224 with a .311 OBP, six home runs and 54 stolen bases in 259 games for the Braves over parts of four seasons through 2014. He also spent two seasons apiece with the Astros and last played in the majors with the Twins in 2014 and 2015.
