The Braves have a handful of young, non-roster players producing during spring training, tops among them Evan Gattis and Joey Terdoslavich.
“They are swinging the bat really, really well right now,” Braves manager Freddi Gonzalez said. “Maybe they will win the batting title in the Grapefruit League.”
Gonzalez was joking about the last part in reference to the games not counting. But the production by Gattis and Terdoslavich could help them eventually earn an opportunity with the big-league club, if not coming out of camp then down the road.
Gattis appears to have the best chance of sticking with the big-league club coming out of camp. He’s a catcher by trade who last summer started playing some left field and could join the Braves as a fifth outfielder/emergency catcher.
Gattis hasn’t played above Class AA and only has 933 total plate appearances in the minors. In parts of three minor league seasons he’s hit .308 with 44 homers, a .920 OPS and only 140 strikeouts.
After turning heads in Braves spring camp last year Gattis is doing it again. He’s 7 for 17 with a home run and two doubles.
Gattis took a winding path back to baseball after once quitting and is already 26-years old. He said isn’t anxious about his chances of making the big-league roster.
“Naw, not yet,” he said. “You go out and you play. I don’t know what’s going to happen so it doesn’t really help to worry about it, I guess.”
Terdoslavich homered in his first spring at-bat and hasn’t let up. He’s 10 for 16 with four RBI and four walks. He leads the club this spring in slugging and on-base percentage.
“Things are going really well for me right now,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep a simple approach. Just try to stay through the middle of the field.
Terdoslavich, 24, is playing in the outfield this spring for the first time since college He had a strong year at Class AA Mississippi in 2012 last summer after a demotion from Triple-A Gwinnett, where he started the season.
Minor improves
Braves left-hander Mike Minor limited the Tigers to one hit and no runs in three innings while striking out three in a 6-1 victory Sunday. In his last start Minor gave up three hits and two runs against the Nationals with two walks and four strikeouts.
“I'm still not feeling that great,” he said. “Don't feel any pain or anything like that but trying to dial in. Threw some good sliders, changeups. Threw maybe one good curveball. Fastball command was good on the outside but lacks the inside still. A lot better than the first outing, so that's a plus.”
Short hops
Braves second baseman Dan Uggla ended an 0-for-13 skid with a first-pitch home run off Duane Below to lead off the sixth inning. “Keep rolling that rock uphill,” Gonzalez said. “(Hitting coach Greg Walker) is in his corner and working hard at it.”. . .
New Braves outfielder B.J. Upton hit his first home run of the spring in the fourth inning. . . .
Braves infielder Ramiro Pena doubled in the third inning before leaving the team to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. . . .
With Pena gone, Gonzalez said Tyler Pastornicky and Elmer Reyes would both play shortstop with Pastornicky spending the most time there. Pastornicky hit a lead-off home run in the fifth inning. . . .
University of Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones threw out the first pitch. Jones is at Disney training for the NFL draft alongside Georgia teammate Baccari Rambo and other prospects. . .
Braves right-hander Tim Hudson is scheduled to face the Mets Monday in Port St. Lucie. The game will be televised on MLB Network.
