ATLANTA — Orlando Arcia might not have been the shortstop Braves fans expected to win the starting job this season, but he’s the one making highlights for a team that entrusted him with the post. The latest? A walk-off line-drive single to center field that scored Eddie Rosario from second base and gave the Braves a 7-6 win over the San Diego Padres in their home opener.
Arcia seemed to know the ball would land in the grass as soon as it left his bat at 93 mph. He spread his arms like an airplane and ran to first base as Rosario rounded the bases and slid safely into home.
AR-SEEYA LATER!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/aeqdNHi3IE
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 7, 2023
It was the crowning achievement on a night when Arcia padded an early Braves lead with a solo homer in his first at-bat, drew a walk, and doubled and scored an important run in the eighth inning (the run cut the Braves’ deficit to 6-5; they tied the score at 6 later in the frame).
What impressed manager Brian Snitker about Arcia’s night was the “slow heartbeat” the infielder showed in his final plate appearance. Rather than jump on anything sent his way, Arcia took four consecutive pitches from right-hander Nabil Crismatt. Comfortable in a 2-2 count, Arcia finally offered at an 89 mph heater off the plate and poked it up the middle for the game-winning single.
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“I like those situations,” Arcia said in Spanish. “I just get it in my head that I want to help the team win and I’m going to do whatever it takes so that the team can win.”
Said Snitker: “There’s no panic in him.”
There might never have been cause for panic for Arcia, who showed his value when he filled in for an injured Ozzie Albies at second base last year. Not even when the expectation by most during spring training was that the Braves were going to pick one of prospects Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake to win the starting shortstop job. Arcia quietly handled business in camp, showing strong defense and batting .341/.426/.585 in 17 Grapefruit League games.
One week into the regular season, he’s tied for second on the team in runs scored (seven) and hits (10) as the primary nine-hole hitter. He’s also one of three Braves with two home runs; the others are sluggers Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley. Matt Olson has three.
Asked if Arcia, 28, is perhaps underrated, Snitker demurred.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “He’s a major-league player, did really well last year, had a good year for us in a few different roles. He’s probably not going to be on the cover of one of them video games or anything like that, but I don’t underrate him at all. I think he’s a big part of why we’re sitting here where we are right now.”
McHugh to the IL, Shuster recalled
Atlanta’s bullpen took a hit Thursday when right-hander Collin McHugh was placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation. But there was reason to believe the move was only precautionary. McHugh said he didn’t end up needing an MRI to check out the soreness, which he would have pitched through if it were later in the season.
“I don’t foresee us doing that (needing imaging) at this point,” he said. “I think me and the trainers will get together and work on what we need to get done in the training room and in the weight room. And I’ll get on the mound here real soon and keep working on things to be sharper.”
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McHugh pitched Wednesday in St. Louis in an outing that spanned two innings and started with two outs in the eighth inning. After making quick work of Paul Goldschmidt to end the eighth, he allowed three hits in the bottom of the ninth, a sequence that allowed the Cardinals to cut their deficit to 5-2. Rather than let McHugh work himself into a deeper hole, Snitker summoned Jesse Chavez from the bullpen for the final out. By then, it had become obvious that McHugh didn’t have his best stuff and had lost some velocity.
“My stuff was not good,” McHugh said. “I can be pretty frank about that. I didn’t miss many barrels, and they were putting good swings on a lot of things. And it’s been a couple of outings now where command’s been a little erratic for me, which is unusual.”
McHugh is hopeful the time off will allow him to sort out what’s ailing him. He hopes to throw off the mound in just a few short days. For the Braves, it’s a chance to make sure they don’t run McHugh ragged this early in the season.
“He’s too valuable for us,” Snitker said. “Better than beating him up or whatever. We just kind of figured it’d be smart to get that thing well. Because, like I’ve said, he’s such a Swiss Army knife for us in what he can do.”
The Braves have the luxury of giving McHugh time off because their roster is stocked with relievers who have high-leverage and late-game experience, even with Raisel Iglesias still on the shelf with shoulder inflammation. A.J. Minter, Nick Anderson and Joe Jiménez are among the top options.
“Alex (Anthopoulos) has always stressed (depth). I feel like I’ve always stressed it — get that depth in the bullpen,” Minter said. “Guys are going to get injured. Alex knows that. That’s why he goes out and gets the guys that he gets in the offseason. We feel good with the guys we still have down there. It’s just a matter of guys having to step up now in these high-leverage situations. It gives opportunities for (other) guys to show what they’re made of.”
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McHugh’s removal from the roster reopened a spot for rookie Jared Shuster, who was optioned to Triple A after his debut against the Nationals on Sunday. Shuster will start Friday’s game against the Padres.
Harris removed as a precaution
Michael Harris II experienced low back tightness Thursday after making a catch at the center-field wall. Harris was removed in the fourth inning, two innings after he reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second base. It is not believed to be a serious injury.
“I’m glad he said something,” Snitker said. “This early, we want to take care of that, not let it linger or anything.
“It’ll be a day-to-day thing.”
— The Athletic’s David O’Brien contributed to this report.
(Top photo of Orlando Arcia: Dale Zanine / USA Today)
