Atlanta Braves Podcast 15: the Optimism of Chase d’Arnaud
Former Atlanta Braves player Chase d’Arnaud took the time to talk with us in our most recent podcast. This article will work as a companion piece and provide essential links to information discussed.
The d’Arnaud brothers, Chase and Travis, will both be able to tell their grandchildren that they have played for the greatest (subjectively speaking, of course) franchise in baseball history, the Atlanta Braves.
Recently, Chase d’Arnaud sat down with us to record the most recent episode of the Tomahawk Take Podcast. As you will find out in the podcast (linked a bit later in this post or on Apple Podcasts) and in this article, he’s one of the most interesting people on the planet.
Improbably Good
According to the NCAA’s official website, of the 487,097 high school baseball players in the country last season, only 7.3% make it to NCAA baseball. Of the 7.3% that make it to NCAA baseball, only 2.2% or 10,716 make it to Division I. Out of the 7,880 players eligible for the Major League draft last year, only 775 players were selected. Only 10% of all minor leaguers ever touch a major league field.
Of the 10% of minor leaguers that actually make it to the show, do you know how many of them started a band that opened for Lady Antebellum less than one year later?
One that I know of… That player is former Atlanta Braves middle-infielder Chase d’Arnaud.
“Retirement”
This is my second story in a week about a guy in his thirties who has recently “retired.”
While playing in the big leagues may be behind them, they are by no means retired. They are simply turning the page or starting a new chapter.
In the case of Chase d’Arnaud, he’s beginning a new verse or transitioning to the next scene.
The 12-year veteran recently announced that he would no longer play baseball for money. He took some time to talk with me on the Tomahawk Take Podcast about his time in Atlanta, his brief (very successful) music career, and the production company he can now commit himself to on a full-time basis.
Not only did he share his passion for the game, for music, and for videography, but he shared the advice he gave his younger brother Travis before he signed with the Braves.
Chase was kind enough to get into his thoughts on the current roster and provide insight into things that oftentimes go unseen by fans, such as the intangibles that players bring to the clubhouse that can make them worth so much more than their stats.
So make sure you take some time to listen to the podcast and get to know one of the most interesting, multi-dimensional, multi-faceted, multi-talented, multi-instrumental, multi-multi’d men to ever reach the highest level of professional baseball: Chase d’Arnaud.
On the next page, I’ll provide more insight and links to supplement the items discussed in the podcast. We start with his time as an Atlanta Brave.
1. Chase’s first career HR came as a Brave
July 1, 2016, Chase d’Arnaud hits his first career home run as a member of the Atlanta Braves. On the podcast, Chase goes into great detail about what was going through his mind and what it felt like to hit his first major league home run.
2. Chase d’Arnaud Band
The Chase d’Arnaud Band was formed prior to Spring Training of 2016 when he met accomplished musician and producer Clayton Cages. Six months later they were playing at Bonnaroo. October of that year they were the opening act for Grammy-Award Winning Country group Lady Antebellum.
All of this while he was still a professional baseball player… No big deal, right?
There are somewhere around 30 million musicians in the United States. Of those 30 million, approximately 400,000 are professional musicians, meaning they play for currency. Of those 400,000 do you know how many have hit their first career major-league home run on July 1, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves and then opened for Lady Antebellum? I’m willing to bet money it’s just one.
Okay, I’m having a little fun now, but you get my point. It’s a rare feat.
Their first album Seven Ghosts is available on Apple Music, along with a solo single called Sucker. In his single, he even uses the idea of looking like a fool on an 0-2 sinker as a metaphor for failure and finding the strength to step back up to the plate and take another hack.
Basically, if you like music and you like baseball, then you need to check out his stuff.
Even if you don’t like baseball or music, you should check… well, if you don’t like baseball or music then you probably also hate reading, oxygen, peace, love, food, trees, Blippi the Youtube sensation, etc…
Below you will find a couple of videos of him performing. In the first one, the Chase d’Arnaud band is performing at Turner Field.
The @cdarnaudband brought their sound to Turner Field with "Follow Me Home" @CHASEdARNAUDhttps://t.co/JOG6mwn2LU
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) July 17, 2016
I may have saved the best for last. On the next and final page we’ll take a look at the production company and some of the inside-baseball projects they have going.
3. d’Arnaud Media Group
Currently, Chase is spending more time with his family and focused on his production company d’Arnaud Media Group. If you want to get a candid look at professional ballplayers behind the scenes then you have to check out the Journeyman Series.
Episode One is embedded below:
Chase is a veteran ballplayer and a skilled film-maker. The players know him and they are comfortable talking to him. If you want to get an inside look at the major leagues or even the minor leagues, you can find it on the Journeyman Series Youtube channel.
They even have recent episodes showing how players like Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and others are attempting to deal with the extended off-season due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Podcast Interview
The direct download link is available here if you prefer to listen later. This is also available via iTunes, Spreaker, and via other podcast outlets.
So, Braves’ fans, here is your to-do list.
- Enjoy listening to Chase d’Arnaud talk with us on the podcast.
- Share the heck out of his Journeyman Series. It’s a treat for anyone and a MUST for baseball fans.
- Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep chopping!
Thanks again to Chase d’Arnaud. If you listened to the podcast and checked out his work then I think you’ll agree with me that there’s no doubt the power of positivity has played a big role in his ability to sustain a 12-year-career in professional baseball and to climb the ladder of the music industry so rapidly.
Make sure you keep up with his content to see what the Principal of Positivity is up to… The Author of Optimism? Optimism Prime?*
Just give him a follow on Twitter @Chasedarnaud to stay up-to-date on his Journeyman Series and any other projects that may be coming your way!
Next. 715 and what it meant for the South. dark
*Neither Chase d’Arnaud or d’Arnaud Media Group approve of these monikers. They were strictly off-the-cuff and not only are they the sole responsibility of the author of the article, they are his mistakes to carry with himself for the rest of his life.