Offensive Heroics
What people probably admire most, or remember most, about Charlie Culberson are the walk-off home runs.
In a span of a week last year Clutcherson hit two walk-off home runs for the Atlanta Braves.
Both came against division rivals, and both were spectacular.
On May 28 against the New York Mets, Charlie helped keep the Atlanta Braves from getting swept in a doubleheader that day with a two-run walk-off homer off Seth Lugo. That also spoiled a great start from eventual Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom.
Six days later he would come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game against
and the Washington Nationals and hit another two-run homer for a walk-off.
Say what you will about the bat flip culture that we play in today, I’ll take Charlie Culberson’s reaction all day long. His pure excitement rounding first base, looking at his teammates, on both of these walk-offs gives me the chills.
And on June 16 last year he hit a home run against the San Diego Padres that wasn’t a walk-off, but it was the only run scored in that game as the Braves went on to win 1-0.
While he hasn’t had that walk-off moment this year, he’s still been just as clutch for the Atlanta Braves.
This season he’s hitting .314 (11-for-35) with 2 home runs and 10 RBI in the eighth inning or later.
When you look at the ninth inning or later he’s hitting .375 (6-for-16) with a home run, 6 RBI, and 3 walks.
He certainly has that clutch gene about him, and I feel very confident when Charlie steps to the plate in the late innings.
That’s the main reason why Brian Snitker doesn’t give him more starts, he wants to deploy him at the right time at the end of games. That’s what makes him so valuable for the Braves.