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Braves: Johan Camargo remains favorite in third base battle with Austin Riley

By Jake Mastroianni

VENICE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves at bat during the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Cool Today Park on February 28, 2020 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
VENICE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves at bat during the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Cool Today Park on February 28, 2020 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Outfielder Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Outfielder Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Can both be on the roster?

I’ve been saying for a while now that I think it could make sense to keep both on the roster if they are both swinging the bat well.

With both of them having plenty of position flexibility, you can find ways to get them both at-bats. Granted, not everyday at-bats for both of them, but enough to keep them in rhythm.

Riley can play in the outfield when there is a lefty on the mound, Camargo can spell Dansby Swanson at shortstop when a tough righty is on the mound — there are ways to make it work.

But recent comments from Brian Snitker (paywall) pretty much shot that down saying both guys need regular work.

And I get that, and it makes sense.

What I find hard to accept from that article is the fact that Snitker doesn’t think Camargo is ready to handle a super-utility role. That seems like the best fit for Camargo in the future, and it makes me worry that he just wasn’t happy with that kind of role last year.

If Riley does win the third base job I just always assumed Camargo would go to the bench as a super-utility guy. But it sounds like that’s not the case — he would instead go to Triple-A to get everyday at-bats.

To me, that hurts the value of Camargo.

Either way, it looks like Snitker would rather they both not be on the roster at the same time and would prefer they both play every day.

Of course, a season has a way of working these things out and the Braves might be forced into a situation where they have to have each guy on the roster.

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