Infielder Braden Shewmake finishes his turn during batting practice. (Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com)

Before we get to the post, I want to respond to the last thread.

Are Spring Training stats meaningless? Loaded question, but…Yes. They mean nothing. No team is going to start a season 1-0 because it carried the best spring training record. No player’s home runs or .400 batting average is transferable to Opening Day. No pitcher’s 12 innings in ST of 0.00 ER A and 18 strikeouts will be remembered after an Opening day disaster by allowing 4 runs in the first inning.

Spring Training is practice. There’s no denying it. There’s nothing in practice that can be teleported to a meaningful game, but does that make Spring Training, which is practice, meaningless?

That answer is no, especially in today’s game when players can remake themselves in an offseason.

*Off Soapbox*

Does the Shew Fit? Not Yet, but Maybe Soon

In the first round of the 2019 MLB draft, the Braves selected Braden Shewmake as the 21st pick. Shewmake was 21 and had just finished his 3rd year at Texas A&M where he carried strong (but not elite) numbers in all offensive facets while playing above average defense at shortstop.

His first taste of professional baseball came a month later at Low-A and he demolished the competition, carrying an .862 OPS in 51 games. Maybe it was a premature move, but being 21 and already 3 years deep in college ball , the front office had Shewmake skip High-A and sent him to where offense goes to die, Pearl, MS. It didn’t go well. It wasn’t all that shocking. When he arrived at Pearl, he had already accumulated nearly 600 PAs for the year and I’m sure was both physically and mentally exhausted. For the backend of 2019, I gave him a pass.

Then 2020 came and COVID ball cancelled all MiLB games and prospects were left to try to get in as much work as they could at an invite-only camp. Shewmake was there, but from what I’ve read, there just wasn’t a lot accomplished during that time and development slowed.

2021 and 2022 weren’t very kind to Shewmake either as a shortened season due to the lockout, followed by injuries in 2022 plagued him and he was only able to get in 80ish games each year with less than stellar results.

Unfortunately for Shewmake, his professional career has been full of potholes. Whether it be COVID, the lockout, or injury, Shewmake has not had a normal year of baseball since 2019.

Before spring began, I didn’t factor in Shewmake when discussing roster construction. Admittedly, combining the success he’s had in spring this year with Vaughn Grissom‘s lackluster results have placed Shewmake back in my internal roster radar. Will he make the Opening Day roster? Highly unlikely. However, if the Braves just don’t feel ready to give it to Vaughn and roll with Orlando Arcia to begin with, Shewmake might be called upon to play a bench role, and a lot can happen from there. Shewmake carries a steady glove, plays mostly SS but has moonlighted as a 2B and can likely play other positions in a pinch.

Ándale, Ándale Eli

There’s been a buzz in camp that I’d have never expected. Eli White is mashing. Now why is this such an extraordinary turn of events? Simply put, he’s been a speed and defense guy his whole career, and even in the minors, he’s only broken double digits once and that was in AAA when the ball was so heavily juiced that Adam Duvall could sneeze on it and it would fly out of the park.

Today, White parked his 2nd and 3rd HRs of spring and is carrying a .435/.500/1.000 slash line for the spring that also includes 2 doubles a triple, and 3 walks. Yes, it’s spring, but it’s contact and it is loud.

Luplow Kicks Off His Spring

A direct competitor for Eli White just made his ST debut Sunday. Jordan Luplow, who had been nursing an oblique went 1-2 with a walk, then followed that up by going 2-3 with a double today. If he’s healthy, Luplow is likely first in line for Eddie Rosario‘s platoon partner.