After a torrid start in Spring Training, we look at whether or not Cristian Pache could join the Atlanta Braves outfield earlier than expected.
Atlanta Braves prospect Cristian Pache has had quite the Spring Training after a great Arizona Fall League and may force the hand of the front office sooner rather than later.
The 20-year-old has long been viewed as a great defensive outfielder whose bat is a little behind.
Last season he hit .279 between High-A and Double-A but had just a .307 on-base percentage (OBP) to go along with 9 home runs.
In the Arizona Fall League he also hit .279 but had a better OBP at .323.
But this Spring he started to show some power with 2 home runs in 24 at-bats, while hitting .458.
Again, we know Pache is going to be a great defensive outfielder, but if he continues to get it done with the bat we are looking at a perennial All-Star player.
We also have to keep in mind that Spring Training stats have to be taken with a grain of salt, but the uptick in offensive production — especially the power — has Braves fans salivating.
So when could we see Pache with the Atlanta Braves?
I don’t think there is any way he breaks camp with the big league team. They aren’t going to bring him up unless he is going to play every day. And at least to begin the season, Nick Markakis is the starting right fielder.
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Plus, I don’t think we’ll see Pache until after June 1 to avoid him getting super-2 status.
But I think it also depends on what Pache does to start the year in the minors. Again, we can’t take a ton of stock in these Spring Training stats.
And this isn’t a Ronald Acuna situation where he was clearly ready for the big leagues last Spring but we needed to see him prove it in the minors. Acuna had a track record in the minors of hitting well and hitting for power.
If Pache goes to the minors and continues to mash the baseball like he has this Spring, and Markakis struggles to start the season, I think we could see Pache with the Atlanta Braves really soon.
That outfield defense with Pache, Acuna, and Ender Inciarte would be insane. It would be hard to drop a fly ball in that outfield.
Plus, I love the idea of that outfield with Markakis coming off the bench as a fourth outfielder.
Pache has been the most impressive player in the Spring Training for the Atlanta Braves — outside of Acuna — and I hope he carries that into the season so we see him in the big leagues soon.