It was not easy for Eli White to learn that he did not make the Braves’ opening-day roster after he played well in spring training as a non-roster invitee. In baseball, though, the opportunity can come at any time.
And for White, it arrived Friday, when the Braves called him up.
That he positioned himself for this promotion is a testament to the focus and determination he showed in the months after the tough news.
“I felt like I had a good shot in spring based on my performance,” White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But it was one of those things where I wasn’t on the roster, I understood that going in. I’m not oblivious to all the other things going on. But yeah, it was disappointing in some ways. But at the end of the day, this is my job. You just gotta maybe have a little pity party for a couple hours or something, but then get back to work. And that’s how I like to look at it. We got a great group down in Gwinnett, so I was excited to go down there and play. Just getting everyday at-bats was really good for me.”
The Braves are trying to find some production from their corner outfield spots. They are trying to find the hot hand.
They optioned Forrest Wall, who had been starting in left field. On Friday, Braves manager Brian Snitker started White in left field and put him ninth in the order.
White went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, including striking out on a full-count pitch to end the game – though the four-seam fastball looked to be slightly below the strike zone.
To make room on the 40-man roster for White, the Braves transferred left-handed reliever Ray Kerr to the 60-day injured list. Kerr is out for the remainder of the season because of Tommy John surgery.
Brian Anderson, who has been on the injured list because of a lower body bacterial infection, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday and went 0-for-4.
In addition to the moves above, the Braves also signed Eddie Rosario to a minor-league deal. He played for Gwinnett too and went 1-for-4.
With the Stripers, White has hit .289 with an .848 OPS over 201 at-bats. He has seven homers. On Wednesday, he had six hits, including two home runs, and 14 total bases. On Thursday, he collected two more knocks.
Asked if he’d ever had a six-hit game, White said: “You know, I haven’t, but I’ve also never had the opportunity to get seven at-bats.”
And he admitted thinking that if his six-hit game didn’t earn him a call-up, then perhaps nothing would.
“I mean, I guess it did cross my mind,” he said. “I was like, ‘Well, now’s my best shot that I’m probably gonna have for a while.’”
He’s hot right now, and the Braves need a boost in their lineup. Since he began playing regularly, Wall was 7-for-28. He was 2-for-12 over his past five games. Wall, who provides speed, was caught stealing twice in two games.
The Braves are missing Ronald Acuña Jr., who is out for the season after tearing his ACL. They are currently without Michael Harris II, who’s on the injured list with a hamstring strain.
“It’s unfortunate that those things have happened to those guys obviously, but a player like me, you kind of need that, for the door to open,” White said. “So now it’s just a matter of capitalizing on it. Don’t know how many opportunities I’m gonna get, but just trying to make the most of the opportunities I do have.”
The Braves are going to give White a crack at helping them.
“I talked to (Gwinnett manager Kanekoa Texeira) the other day, and he told me, ‘You might want to take a look at him,’” Snitker said. “And if they’re hot and all that, it’s kind of like, why not? We’re looking for a spark here. He’s a good defensive outfielder, he throws well, he runs. No time better to get a guy up there than when he’s playing good.”
Extras:
- Asked when the Braves might need to put Ramón Laureano (oblique issue) on the injured list, Snitker said: “That’s a good question. It’s gonna probably be sooner or later that we’re gonna have to see.”
- Harris ran on the field at Truist Park again Friday. Snitker said Harris still has a few more boxes to check before he can head out on a rehab assignment.
- AJ Smith-Shawver will start for Gwinnett on Tuesday. In his first rehab start, he allowed one run over two innings for High-A Rome.
- Ian Anderson will continue his rehab assignment with a start for Low-A Augusta on Saturday.
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