House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves acquire backup catcher and a bench bat

By Fred Owens

The Atlanta Braves claimed catcher Rene Rivera off waivers from the Los Angels. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves claimed catcher Rene Rivera off waivers from the Los Angels. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves acquired first baseman Lucas Duda from the Kansas City Royals. Duda is seen here as he hits a two-run home run against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 3, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

Lucas Duda

Atlanta Braves fans should remember Lucas Duda, he played first base for the Mets from 2010 through July 2017 when they traded him to the Rays. They let him walk after last year and the Royals signed him two weeks after spring training started.

Mets fans loved to hate Duda but he had some very productive years for them before he injured his back in 2016. From 2013 through 2015 Duda hit .243/.351/.4578/.817 with a .355 wOBA and 130 wRC+. In that span, he averaged 24 homers, 25 doubles, and 63 RBI a year.

This season for the Royals Duda hit .242/.311/.415/.726 with a .313 wOBA and 95 wRC+ in 341 PA. More importantly for the Braves, he’s a career .251/.354/.485/.839 with a .360 wOBA and 131 wRC+.

Although he struggled against left-handers this year, he continued to hit RHP well, posting a .267/.335/.479/.814 line with a .347 wOBA and 118 wRC+. He 58 hits in 217 AB that included 11 homers, 11 doubles, and a triple; that makes 39.6% of his hits the extra-base variety.

Duda also offers manager Brian Snitker the opportunity to rest Freddie Freeman without using a middle infielder at first base. The most likely candidate for a trip to Gwinnett when Duda arrives is Rio Ruiz who came up as a stop-gap when Stewart left

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