LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – When Matt Young was told Sunday he made the Braves' opening-day roster, the undersized outfielder was so surprised he "kind of blacked out" and didn't hear anything else manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The reaction was similar for infielder Brandon Hicks, who was surprised and overjoyed when told Sunday he, too, had made the team. "I’m jacked up about it,” Hicks said.
Young and Hicks, a pair of long-time Braves minor leaguers few expected to make the roster a few weeks ago, came on strong while chief competitors Joe Mather and Ed Lucas faltered.
Infielder Brooks Conrad will fill the other of three bench jobs that seemed undecided when spring training began, although Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said that, in his mind, Conrad was never competing for a job; he already had one.
“Brooks is a good bat off the bench,” Gonzalez said. “He hits from both sides. For me, he wasn’t in a position to be competing [for a job].”
The Braves announced their 25-man roster Sunday, four days before their season opener at Washington.
The only other spot up for grabs was the last bullpen job, won by Cristhian Martinez over injury-plagued veteran Scott Proctor. Proctor was released, and because the Braves did it before a Monday deadline, they owe him only 45 days' termination pay – about one-fourth of the $750,000 salary he would’ve made if he spent all season on the major league roster.
One spot won’t be finalized until team officials are more certain about starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens’ status. Jurrjens, who the Braves hope to have on the opening-day roster, left his last Grapefruit League start Thursday with a sore right side. He had no problems when he tested it with light throwing Sunday, and will throw off the mound Monday.
Conrad and rookies Hicks and Young are joined on the bench by incumbent veterans Eric Hinske and catcher David Ross, who were always assured of jobs.
Martinez is the “legit long reliever” that Gonzalez wanted in the bullpen, and joins six who already had jobs: lefties Eric O’Flaherty and George Sherrill, righties Peter Moylan and Scott Linebrink, and co-closers Craig Kimbrel and lefty Jonny Venters.
No one was happier to make the team than Young.
“I don’t have words to describe it,” he said late Sunday morning, two hours after Gonzalez told the 5-foot-7 outfielder/second baseman he made it.
Young hit .293 (12-for-41) with five RBIs, nine walks and two strikeouts in 24 games before Sunday. The plucky Texan can play center, making him the likely backup to Nate McLouth.
“He did a nice job for himself making this club, and you’re going to win with guys like that because he’s not going to miss a sign, he’s going to put the ball in play," Gonzalez said. "He’s going to do the little things – no put intended – to help you win a ballgame.”
Many thought Young wouldn’t make the team out of camp because he bats left-handed and the Braves needed a right-handed bat (Mather bats right-handed).
“I think it helped that the last week or so, I faced a lot of lefties and was hitting them,” said Young, who hit .300 with 33 doubles, 30 stolen bases and a .380 OBP at Triple-A Gwinnett.
Mather, claimed off waivers from St. Louis over the winter, came to camp with a corner infield/outfield job to lose. He lost it, hitting .137 (7-for-51) with two extra-base hits and a .214 OBP.
“If he clears [waivers], we’ll have him at Triple-A,” said Wren, who considers Mather a defensive asset. "
The Braves have played Conrad some at first base this spring, giving them another option along with Hinske when rookie Freddie Freeman is out of the lineup.
Hicks hit .333 (11-for-33) with three doubles and a homer in 24 spring games before Sunday, with a .389 OBP and .515 slugging percentage. Lucas hit .244 with one extra-base hit, a .326 OBP and a .293 slugging percentage.
Lucas can play five or six positions, including all the infield spots. Hicks only plays shortstop and third base, but he’s superb defensively. In past years, Hicks’ offensive shortcomings were the only thing that kept him off the team. He’s made adjustments since last season.
Said Wren: “[Hicks'] winter work on his offense really paid off for him. It’s a credit to those guys that they came in and competed and won jobs.”
