Cameron Maybin's Impact on the Atlanta Braves

This season has been one of great change for the Atlanta Braves. President of Baseball Operations John Hart has radically altered the makeup of the club since the firing of Frank Wren, exchanging former All-Stars and big bats for young talent. Hart’s efforts also allowed the Braves to finally part ways with center fielder Melvin Upton, Jr., and all the malaise that has followed his career since he signed in Atlanta in 2013.

“With the NL East lead within reach, and the Braves lacking their best player, Cameron Maybin’s presence in the batting order has become more important than ever.”

Many Atlanta Braves fans bemoaned the trade that sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres the night before Opening Day in 2015. At the time, it looked as if this deal’s purpose was to afford the Braves more financial flexibility as well as bring in more young talent, including top prospect Matt Wisler to the Braves’ farm system.

One of the players included in this trade was Cameron Maybin, who many though was just a simple addition to the transaction to even out the financial numbers. His inclusion to the Atlanta Braves clubhouse was somewhat of an afterthought, thinking that Maybin would only contribute to the club in an ancillary capacity.

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Since that day, Braves fans and the organization should consider themselves fortunate that the once maligned top prospect that never was able to achieve his speculated potential during his first eight years in the Majors is now a prominent cog in the Braves’ offensive machine.

Highly touted when drafted 10th by the Detroit Tigers in 2005, scouts projected that Maybin could become a five-tool player. His talent was so highly regarded that he was a major piece in the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers from the Florida Marlins. He projected to hit for average and power, steal bases, and provide superior defensive skills.

After Maybin’s big-league debut in 2007, he wallowed in offensive mediocrity for the next eight years, never realizing the projected offensive output that helped him achieve his high draft stock. Upon joining the Atlanta Braves, he and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer connected professionally; and as a product of Seitzer’s guidance, Maybin began making more consistent contact with the ball instead of perpetually swinging for the fences.

Jun 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Cameron Maybin (25) reacts after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Before this season, Maybin was a career .250 hitter (which isn’t awful), but is no where close to being spectacular. Under Seitzer’s tutelage, Maybin has been able to raise his average almost 40 points to his current .286 average, while combining 6 home runs and 13 stolen bases thus far into the season.

Maybin’s offensive and defensive contributions have been invaluable to a Braves team that must scrape together runs without a significant home run threat. To put into perspective how Maybin has not only met but surpassed expectations this season, the Atlanta Braves center fielder’s WAR is 1.6, where former Brave Melvin Upton, Jr. had a combined WAR of -.6 in his two seasons playing in an Atlanta uniform.

His offense is more important than ever to this over-achieving Braves team, now that Freddie Freeman has been lost to the Disabled List for the foreseeable future. With the NL East lead within reach, and the Braves lacking their best player, Cameron Maybin’s presence in the batting order has become more important than ever.

Afterthought to All-Star?: Cameron Maybin’s Impact on the Atlanta Braves

By Jonathan Savitske | Jun 25, 2015

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