The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All players in place as Braves prepare for spring opener
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Every player was in Braves camp for Wednesday’s workouts as they ready for Grapefruit League play, which begins Saturday.
Some notes from the past couple of days at Disney:
■ Nick Markakis reported to camp Tuesday. After a winter of uncertainty, the Braves opted to re-sign Markakis to man right field in 2019.
“I’m glad he’s here, obviously,” manager Brian Snitker said. “Got a smile (from him). Everyone felt good when they saw him. Anybody who’s that stable and professional, everything he brings, that professionalism, that consistency, the performance — it’s really huge helping us get where we’re at now. We’re glad to have him back.”
■ Utilityman Charlie Culberson compared the Braves’ clubhouse chemistry with that of the Dodgers, with whom he spent 2016-17. As Culberson described it, the Braves are adopting that expectation of winning that has made L.A. so consistent.
“That’s all (the Dodgers) talked about was winning in October,” Culberson said. “They had the players and the mindset. It was a comfortable feeling over there. I’m feeling it this year (here) a little bit. We won the division last year. Our organization got better over the offseason. I think we have the right pieces here and with everyone experiencing the postseason, experiencing that feeling, that vibe, what it takes to win. Losing it (the National League Division Series) hurt, but I think there’s a different feeling in the air this spring.”
■ Fellow chess piece Johan Camargo is excited to play all around the field. He spent much of the offseason fielding fly balls and getting more comfortable reading the ball off the bat in preparation for an outfield role.
Camargo channeled Martin Prado, a former Braves fan favorite who excelled in the very space in which Camargo is preparing, regarding his new job. “I was definitely a fan of Martin Prado. Watching him and how versatile he was, playing so many positions, that was a good role model coming up.”
As for where Camargo feels most comfortable, he simply responded: “In the lineup.”
■ Outfielder Ender Inciarte is still bantering with friend and Atlanta United star Josef Martinez. Martinez, of course, won a title with Atlanta United in December, and he enjoys teasing Inciarte about being “the Venezuelan guy who got the ring.”
“He’s very happy to represent Atlanta, to represent Venezuela,” Inciarte said. “And hopefully we’re going to be able to (win a title) in baseball, too.”