The catcher position was the weakest link for the Braves for most of last season. Travis d’Arnaud tore a ligament in his thumb that caused him to miss months, but even when he was on the field, he was a shell of the player he was when he won a Silver Slugger in 2020. On top of that, the backup catching options the Braves had were almost unwatchable, especially in the batter’s box.
Because of that, the Braves went out and signed Manny Piña to a multi-year contract right after the season ended. He was arguably the best catcher available in free agency, and he’ll fit in perfectly behind d’Arnaud, who looks to have found his form this Spring. In just his 17th at-bat on Monday, he sent his third home run into orbit, clearing two fences in the process.
Travis d'Arnaud cleared two fences on this home run. pic.twitter.com/Ma6PMBQpP1
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) April 4, 2022
d’Arnaud is flashing a lot more than just power, too. He hit .353 this Spring while providing his always steady presence behind the plate.
Last season, according to FanGraphs, the Braves were below replacement-level behind the plate. In 2022, FanGraphs has d’Arnaud and Piña combining for 3.2 fWAR. That’s a massive upgrade at one of the most critical positions in the game, and there’s a chance it could be even greater if d’Arnaud continues to swing the stick anything like he has this Spring.
—
Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.