There are times when Andrelton Simmons makes it easy to forget he had just 49 games in the majors before this season. Times when the Braves shortstop looks like the savviest player as well as the best defender on the field.
But the 23-year-old Curacao native is not immune to struggles, and there have been a few games lately when he’s at least slightly resembled a kid who had not play above Double-A until 55 weeks ago, which is what he is.
Simmons has made his usual bevy of spectacular plays this season, but some uncharacteristic mistakes, too. He went 4-for-5 in a game at Cincinnati on May 8 to raise his average to .276, but since then he’s hit .221 in 34 games with one homer, a .245 on-base percentage, and, believe it or not, more errors (six) than walks (five).
He made twice as many errors (six) during a 21-game stretch from May 24 through Saturday as he made in his entire rookie season. Six errors in 21 games, after not making a single error in the Braves’ first 46 games — the last major league shortstop to make his first error this season.
Simmons can’t put a finger on anything that’s contributed to the recent spate of miscues. He takes more pride in defense than anything, but said the errors were a bit easier to take because they hadn’t been costly for the team.
“At least we’re still winning every time I make an error,” he said, correctly: The Braves won all five games in which he made an error, including his two-error game
“To be honest, if it doesn’t cause a run, it doesn’t hurt as bad,” he said. “And especially if we win, I don’t care.”
