Atlanta Braves fans have been left confused and frustrated by manager Brian Snitker’s continued decision to bat Alex Verdugo second in the lineup. While Verdugo started strong during his first week with the team, his performance has cooled significantly since then.
Much of the blame has been directed at Snitker, who tends to stick with the same lineup even when players are underperforming. He’s often criticized for being slow to adjust when changes are clearly needed.
However, the frustration over Verdugo hitting second overlooks a key point. Despite appearances, his stats in the two-hole are better than most realize. In just 19 plate appearances batting second this season, Verdugo owns a .313 batting average and a .421 on-base percentage. Though his slugging (.313) and OPS (.734) are less impressive, this small sample helps explain why Snitker hasn’t made a change.
Snitker’s decision also isn’t based solely on this season—Verdugo has been relatively productive hitting second over his career, with a .273 average, .330 OBP, .416 slugging percentage, 20 home runs, 36 doubles, and 72 RBIs.
This season, Verdugo has done a good job avoiding strikeouts and not chasing pitches, but his weak contact and low walk rate have limited his overall offensive impact. Considering how often Ronald Acuña Jr. reaches base, Verdugo might not be the ideal hitter to follow him in the lineup. Still, with limited alternatives right now, Snitker’s choice is somewhat understandable—even if it’s not ideal.
The silver lining is that Jurickson Profar is expected to return soon. His presence could boost the offense even more, and depending on how things shake out, Verdugo may be the one to lose his spot when Profar is back in action. We’ll have a clearer picture of the team’s plans once that move happens.
Leave a Reply