Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Ticket$, Paradise, and… Wanna Job?
A general view before the Hawaii Bowl between the Rice Owls and Fresno State Bulldogs at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves hold open tryouts in Hawaii
The Atlanta Braves took a unique approach to scouting this past weekend, as the team held open tryouts for local ball players in Honolulu, Hawaii.
139 of Hawaii’s best baseball players put their talents on display for Braves scouts on Saturday, participating in batting practice, fielding drills, sprints and bullpen sessions in hopes of getting a chance to play for a major-league organization.
…
“The types of players we typically get are recently released pro players, passed-over college seniors, along with junior college players who still have eligibility, and high school players,” Cox told KHON 2 News.
Former New York Yankees outfielder and graduate of nearby Kamehameha, Bronson Sardinha, attended the event and was excited about the opportunities for the local talent. “What we wanna do is make a splash for Hawaii,” Sardinha told KHON 2 News.
…
In addition to Honolulu, the Braves will host a number of open tryout camps across the country this summer, including in Myrtle Beach, SC; Orange, CA and the Bronx, NY.
[ Ed. note: many teams have decided that this kind of ‘all-comers’ tryout camp is now passe… with scouting as it is, many believe that all the players worth any look are playing year-round and will be picked up along the way.
The Braves are taking a different approach: no rock left unturned. So not only are they continuing tryout camps, they are – as you see – extending their reach. No idea if anything will come of it, but it’s interesting to see. Frankly, if even one kid gets signed and sticks around, it’ll probably be worth the relatively small investment. ]
Next: Have We Got a Job For You!