TAMPA -- Braves outfielder Jordan Schafer had his best game of the spring Tuesday night against the Yankees, displaying the skills that make him a candidate for a bench job on Atlanta's Opening Day roster.
He had a double, two walks and a stolen base in the Braves’ 2-0 win at George Steinbrenner Field, raising his average to .318 (7-for-22) and his on-base percentage to .400.
“I tell you what, this is what he can do,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He’s our version of (Yankees center fielder Brett) Gardner. He can really help us. He can play all three outfield positions and can really, really run.”
Schafer led off the game with a nearly 400-foot double that bounced over the center-field fence. He scored two batters later on a Justin Upton groundout.
After drawing a leadoff walk in the third inning, Schafer stole second and went to third on a groundout, but was stranded after Upton struck out and Freddie Freeman grounded out.
Schafer is out of minor-league options, which means he would have to clear waivers before he could be sent down. That fact could work in his favor, as could the continued absence of outfielder Jose Constanza, who has missed the first 2-1/2 weeks of camp while stuck in the Dominican Republic due to visa issues.
