Alex Verdugo Has Been The Spark The Braves Needed

Nine games is obviously an extremely small sample size, and Verdugo will certainly not maintain these numbers the entire season. That said, he has always had elite potential as a patient hitter with great pop, which he flashed with the Red Sox but never fully realized. Perhaps a second change of scenery has unlocked something in his bat.

Helpful On Many Levels

Verdugo’s hot start seems to have had a trickle-down effect on the team as a whole in several ways. Most importantly, the previously fluid lineup has been stabilized with Verdugo holding down the leadoff spot, where he has batted in every game he has played. While the Braves got minimal production out of their leadoff hitters during the first 18 games, Verdugo has been an on-base machine. Furthermore, this has allowed manager Brian Snitker to move center fielder Michael Harris down in the order, where he has since thrived after struggling immensely hitting at the top.

And while not quantifiable, Verdugo’s arrival has seemingly coincided with a renewed attitude about the Braves. Overall, Atlanta lacks boisterous, outspoken players in its locker room, something he has been somewhat infamous for throughout his career. While it was reasonable to doubt that the fiery Verdugo would mesh well with the stoic Braves leaders like Austin Riley and Matt Olson, it seems he was the right man at the right time. The Braves season needed a tone shift, and Verdugo has helped it happen.

Moving Forward

Verdugo won’t hit like this forever, and is sure to regress toward his career .744 OPS at some point. That said, he represents a far better option than De la Cruz, Fairchild, or Jarred Kelenic, and will continue to hold down left field until Jurickson Profar returns from his suspension in June. He is also likely to be bumped from the leadoff spot when Acuña returns in a few days, but can continue to give the lineup length while hitting toward the bottom. No matter his role, Verdugo figures to be a big contributor for the rest of the season, especially given the putrid performances of the aforementioned other depth outfielders in the organiztion. The Braves have to be feeling good about their last-minute investment.