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Atlanta Braves Johan Camargo’s emergence might start the trade carousel

By Dan Horton

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 09: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a solo home run in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on July 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 10-5. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 09: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a solo home run in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on July 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 10-5. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JULY 4: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves is unable to make a play at third base against the Houston Astros during the second inning at SunTrust Park on July 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 4: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves is unable to make a play at third base against the Houston Astros during the second inning at SunTrust Park on July 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Don’t Mess with the Johan

I had the privilege to see Camargo play Sunday against the Nationals. All he did in that game was go 3 for 3 with a walk, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Getting to see his 1st ML home run was special, and it wasn’t a cheap shot either.

In 40 games for the Braves this year, Camargo is slashing .327/.355/.500/.855. He is 10th on the team in hits with 34 in 104 ABs, 8th in doubles with 11, and leads in triples at 2.

Camargo has played four positions since being called up. Left field, shortstop, second base, and third base. Of those positions played, the majority have come at third. Johan has logged 175.2 innings there, starting in 18 games committing one error.

Late in that game Sunday, in the 8th inning, there was liner hit to Freddie at third. That liner, which in my opinion could have been caught, wasn’t. It led to two runs scoring and putting the game out of reach for the Braves.

Freddie looked stiff, slow, and less-than-nimble moving to his right to try for that line drive. I fully believe Camargo makes that play, or at least knocks it down, preventing any runs from scoring.

Yes, the game was already 8-5 Nats before that Daniel Murphy double, but a 3-run deficit is a little less formidable than a 5-run deficit.

My point here, though, is that Camargo is more agile with better reaction time than Freddie has at 3B.

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