Dec 24 2008
Final two months gave Prado a shot to show Braves he can play
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — For the past two seasons, he’d waited patiently for a few at-bats at the major-league level. All the while, Martin Prado knew he could play with the big boys.
Given a much larger block of time to prove so in 2008, he delivered in impressive fashion.
Prado finished 2008 with 228 at-bats, after earning just 101 combined in 2006-07. With the Braves out of the race in the NL East by the end of July, Prado was given a long look by Bobby Cox during the final two months.
All Prado did was become the Braves’ best hitter during the season’s final eight weeks. Showing a tendency to hit line drives to every part of the ballpark, Prado finished 2008 with a .320 average, 18 homers, four triples, two homers and 33 RBIs. His 21 walks helped boost his on-base percentage (.377), and while he’s not a big power guy, his gap power and his ability to hit the ball with authority either to pull or away definitely caught everybody’s attention.
His August was blistering: 32 hits in 74 at-bats (.432) with nine doubles, two triples, a homer and 12 RBIs. He cooled off in September, finishing that month with a .268 clip. Still, he impressed the Braves with his work at the plate, especially his .364 average (12-for-33) and 13 RBIs with two outs and runners in scoring position.
Prado made 24 appearances at third base – mostly when Omar Infante found himself playing shortstop or left field – and 17 at second base. He also played 17 games at first base, a position where he’d never played before until this season. Prado also played a little shortstop and made three appearances in left field.
Defensively, he’s best suited for second base (although he only made two errors combined at third and at first). Beyond what position he plays best, it’s easy to like Prado because he has good baseball instincts. Some guys just know what to do between the lines, and Prado is one of those guys.
He’s definitely proven he belongs on the major-league roster in 2009. There won’t be any waiting, any worrying as the final days of March tick away this spring. Prado is a major-leaguer now, no doubt, and the feeling here is he’s going to play a big role for the Braves coming off the bench next season.
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