Pin it on sporadic playing time, his decision not to play winter ball, the Josh Donaldson signing or whatever means of finger-pointing you so choose, but the numbers tell the story: Johan Camargo is off to a disappointing start in the role of Braves utility-man extraordinaire.
Camargo, who handled daily third-base duties for most of last season, was shifted to the bench when the team signed Donaldson early in the offseason. Camargo embraced the role, practicing in the outfield through winter and preparing to play regularly at nearly every position.
At the start of the season, it seemed that would be the case. But Camargo’s performance didn’t support a heavier workload, and as a result his time in the field has decreased. He hit .231 with a .296 on-base percentage across 71 plate appearances in March/April.
In May, he’s hit .186 with a .460 OPS. He’s 8-for-43 on the month with one extra-base hit. His 44 plate appearances are a noticeable dip.
“It’s a tough job, especially for a young guy,” manager Brian Snitker said of the utility role. “You see a lot of the guys who do that job in the major leagues, and they’re all on the back end of their careers. They’ve experienced playing every day, he hasn’t.
“It’s a tough job to ask a young guy to do. And it’s hard to get him time, especially when you have the off-days coming up. It’s a tough position to handle, and with his youth and inexperience, it’s even more of a difficult job.”
Camargo snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a single in Wednesday’s 14-4 blood-bath loss against the Nationals. It was his first hit in about two weeks. As a pinch-hitting option, he’s fallen behind Charlie Culberson and even Matt Joyce – Camargo is only 1-for-15 when called upon in that situation.
The counterargument is Camargo is cold because he isn’t playing enough, a logical viewpoint, but it’s not as though he hit the ground running when he was receiving plenteous at-bats.
“He works hard to stay ready, but when you get inconsistent at-bats like that, it’s tough,” Snitker said.
The Donaldson signing already is a debated subject among Braves followers, but Camargo’s regression is all-the-more case for his signing – unless, of course, one’s view is Donaldson blocking Camargo is responsible for that regression. But it’s hard to argue Donaldson’s upside isn’t immensely higher than Camargo’s.
It’s more likely Camargo’s struggles are related directly to himself, not the Braves’ big-ticket free agent. However it’s perceived — and there will be widespread takes on all ends of the spectrum — that getting Camargo right would go a long way toward the Braves’ return to the postseason.
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