Recent pitching outings by Atlanta Braves position players
Position players pitching has developed into a much more common occurrence than years’ past, with there already being plenty of cases of this happening before the All-Star break.
In the last game of Atlanta’s game against the Philidelphia Phillies, Mike Ford took the mound as the Atlanta Braves got blown out at
Of course, Travis d’Arnaud gave us a great memory this season when Dee Strange-Gordon took the mound for the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning of the Braves’ 16-4 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Dee Strange-Gordon kills Travis d'Arnaud ⚰️🪦☠️ pic.twitter.com/s2ES9bHDhk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 13, 2022
However, even with the recent trend of sending non-pitchers out to the mound, the Atlanta Braves have yet to break out a position player to pitch this season.
So, this begs the question.
What position players have taken the mound for the Atlanta Braves?
Mike Ford
Mike Ford became the first position player since Charlie Culberson to take the mound for the Braves, as Atlanta got blown out at Citizens Bank Park.
After the Braves gave up a whopping 12 runs in the series finale, Ford entered to finish up the game for Atlanta. He recorded the first out of his pitching career after a fly ball from Mickey Moniac.
After Darick Hall hit a two-run home run to give the Phillies a 10-run lead, Ford finished out the inning with a foul pop fly from Garrett Stubbs and a groundout from Yairo Munoz.
Despite making it through the inning, Ford finished the night with an 18.00 ERA. If he sees the mound again, he may have the chance to bring this down.
Charlie Culberson
I’d assume that if any fan of the Atlanta Braves read this headline, the first name to come to mind would be Charlie Culberson 99% of the time.
Overall, Culberson pitched in four games during his Atlanta Braves’ career, compiling a 2.70 ERA after 4 hits, an earned run, two walks and a strikeout in three and a third total innings.
Not too shabby.
His first inning pitched came against the Colorado Rockies on August 17, 2018, where he pitched the final inning of the Braves’ 11-5 loss at then-called SunTrust Park.
Despite keeping the ball in the park at the hitter-friendly stadium, Culberson picked up the first, and only, earned run of his pitching career with the Braves after a single from DJ LeMahieu scored Charlie Blackmon.
Culberson pitched twice in the 2019 season, with the first of his two appearances coming against the San Diego Padres on May 2. In the final inning of the 11-2 loss, Culberson allowed a hit and two walks while striking out Manuel Margot for his lone strikeout of the contest.
A little over two months later, Culberson pitched yet again for the Braves in their 14-3 loss to the Washington Nationals on July 18.
After his one allowed hit from Trea Turner to start off the inning, Culberson retired Adam Eaton, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to close out the top of the ninth.
In his final pitching appearance with the Braves, Culberson pitched the final third of an inning against the Washington Nationals in the second game of their doubleheader on September 4, 2020.
He threw just two pitches, with a fly ball to right field from Trea Turner closing out the top of the ninth for the Nationals.
Jonny Gomes
Jonny Gomes was the first position player in over 35 years to take the mound as a position player for the Braves when the took the mound in the Braves’ 15-4 loss to the New York Yankees at Turner Field on August 28, 2015.
Despite making history, Gomes surrendered three hits, two earned runs and two walks in his one career inning of work on the mound.
Oddly enough, one of his two earned runs came from Braves legend Brian McCann, who was in his second season of playing with the Yankees. McCann hit a sacrifice fly to score John Ryan Murphy, who, oddly enough, also played for the Braves during McCann’s last season before retirement.
Gomes closed out his pitching career striking out pitcher Bryan Mitchell to close out the top of the ninth.
John Russell
John Russell may be most notably remembered for his managerial and coaching work between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles from 2003-2018.
However, Russell played in the major leagues from 1984-1993, playing catcher for the Braves during the 1989 season alongside former All-Stars Bruce Benedict and Jody Davis.
Russell pitched the final third of an inning for the Braves in their 12-6 loss to the Houston Astros on June 25, 1989.
He pitched in relief of Joe Boever, who allowed five earned runs in two thirds of an inning.
Oddly enough, the bases were loaded when the Braves elected to put Russell in to pitch. However, on his fifth pitch, Gerald Young hit a pop fly into foul territory which allowed Darrell Evans to come up with the last out for the Braves.
Oddly enough, current Braves third base coach Ron Washington played in this game, coming in relief of Bill Doran at second base in the bottom of the ninth. This was Washington’s last season of his playing career.
Jim Morrison
Morrison pitched three separate times during the 1988 season for the Atlanta Braves.
On July 28, he made his first appearance on the mound against the San Francisco Giants, which the Braves fell in a 13-7 home loss.
Morrison pitched the final two and a third innings of the ball game, and oddly enough, had the best outing of the day for the Braves bullpen.
In his appearance, Morrison allowed three hits and no earned runs while walking one and striking out one.
Granted, his one strikeout was relief pitcher Craig Lefferts, who didn’t get a hit all season.
But, hey. A strikeout’s a strikeout.
In his second and third appearances, Morrison pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals one week apart from each other.
Morrison took the mound on August 23, 1988 in Atlanta’s 7-0 loss to the Cardinals. He pitched the final inning, throwing 13 pitches while allowing no hits and a walk.
Exactly a week later, Morrison took the mound for the last time in his baseball career.
He pitched the final third of an inning against the Cardinals in the 7-0 loss, with the final out being a flyout from Braves Hall of Famer Terry Pendleton, who was on his first stint with the Cardinals before joining the Braves in 1990.
Luis Gomez
Of all of the outings on this list, Luis Gomez put together one for the books.
In the final season of the shortstop’s career, he was able to take the mound and pitch for an inning of work in the Braves’ 11-1 loss to the San Diego padres on May 30, 1981.
In the final inning of the contest, Gomez faced eight batters, piling up three hits, three earned runs and two walks.
After a single to right field from Luis Salazar scored Dave Edwards, Gomez was able to close out the inning with a fly ball to left field from Juan Bonilla.
Next. The Atlanta Braves' best players in June. dark
With his retirement after the 1981 season, Gomez finished his baseball career with a career 27.00 ERA.