With the Atlanta Braves' offense struggling as much as it has this season, much has been made about their lineup and what the optimal choices are. The Braves tried Michael Harris and that didn't work while Alex Verdugo has occupied the spot for a while, but he has cooled off significantly of late. On Wednesday, it appears as though Brian Snitker is going to go with a very unorthodox choice.
Picking leadoff hitters comes down to philosophy. Some think that you should go with a traditional speedy contact hitter at the top, others think your best hitter should hit leadoff (which probably means that Marcell Ozuna should be leading off), while others prioritize on-base skills at leadoff.
Rather than entertain Ozuna, Austin Riley, or even Drake Baldwin as their leadoff hitter while we wait for Ronald Acuna Jr. to return and take the spot back, Snitker is giving Eli White a crack at the job.
Midweek matchup on the way!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/uLf8JOPWsj
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 14, 2025
Braves go with Eli White at leadoff against the Nationals on Wednesday
There are a few factors in play here. One, Verdugo hasn't been hitting particularly well and Atlanta is up against a lefty starter in Mitchell Parker, so Verdugo and Harris are not great options to lead off. Second, it seems as though the Braves wanted to give Verdugo a day off altogether and let Stuart Fairchild, who has done little except pinch-run this season, get some playing time.
It doesn't hurt that White has been an exceedingly fun story this season. While it almost certainly won't last, White has posted a .287/.347/.494 line in 96 plate appearances in 2025. Snitker also seems to like having speed at leadoff and White is quite fast on the bases.
Again, this choice is a bit of novelty to see what happens as Acuna Jr. is going to be leading off very soon. White does deserve a chance to shine before he is inevitably pushed to the bench. If he can keep this up, White could easily find himself in a platoon situation with Verdugo once the roster dust settles. If not, the Braves can always say they gave him a fair shake.