When Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann underwent offseason shoulder surgery, Braves fans everywhere were concerned with who would fill the offensive void and reliability behind the plate.  The acquisition of veteran catcher Gerald Laird pacified the Braves’ faithful, as they saw him as a satisfactory replacement until McCann was able to return.  Soon after, at the beginning of Spring Training, another face emerged, determined to make the Opening Day roster and claim the spot behind the plate.  That face belonged to 26 year-old rookie Evan Gattis. 

Gattis, hailing from Dallas, was drafted with the 704th overall pick (23rd round) in the 2010 draft by the Atlanta Braves.  He spent his first several season playing class-A and AA ball in the Braves system.  After dominating the winter league he played in in 2012, Gattis earned an invite to Spring Training.  He performed well enough to make the Braves Opening Day roster and has become the squad’s everyday catcher while McCann continues to rehab his shoulder. 

So far this season, Gattis is batting .250 with seven home runs, which is fifth most in the majors.  He’s been a great source of offense for the Braves in place of McCann who usually provides that spark from behind the plate.  In games that Gattis has homered in this season, the Braves are 6-1, with the one loss being yesterday to the Mets in extra innings.  In comparison, McCann batted .230 at the plate with 20 home runs through the whole 2012 season.  If Gattis played the whole season, it seems that he would surely best that number by a good margin. 

However, the Braves have made it clear that McCann will resume regular catching duties when he returns. So, where does that leave early season surprise Evan Gattis?  Manager Fredi Gonzalez has an array of options to ensure that Gattis continues to get at-bats, allowing him to produce offensively for the Braves. 

First and foremost, the catcher position is the spot that traditionally gets the most days off throughout the year.  The wear and tear that a catchers’ body takes during the season usually earns them at least one game off per week.  So, expect Gattis to start behind the plate in this situation.  Gattis is also defensively proficient at first base.  If Freddie Freeman needs a day off or the Braves are facing a tough southpaw, such as Cliff Lee or Gio Gonzalez, Gattis could and should certainly get the start at first base.  In addition, Gattis can also play left field.  With Jason Heyward on the disabled list, the Braves are platooning outfielders as it is, so it makes sense to work Gattis into the rotation to get him additional at-bats.  Lastly, the league has expanded its’ inter-league play this year which means the Braves will play more games in American League stadiums than in previous season.  This means they will have additional opportunities to have a designated hitter, which would likely be Gattis. 

McCann returning to the lineup will be a huge boost for the Braves, both statistically and from a leadership perspective.  Although, with his return comes the task of getting Gattis his fair share of trips to the plate.  As you can see, there are more than ample opportunities for manager Fredi Gonzalez to make this happen.  If McCann struggles when he returns, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gattis gets more and more starts behind the plate.  Regardless of seniority, managers field the team that gives them the best shot to win.  In my opinion, that team must include rookie Evan Gattis.