Atlanta Braves: Five All-Star Position Player Wish List

Every time I looked up in the Braves’ abysmal series against the Colorado Rockies this past weekend, I could see their leadoff batter and centerfielder Charlie Blackmon standing on first base grinning with that crazy awesome beard of his.  Though he has spent his entire big league career in hitter’s paradise Coors Field, I love his stat lines as the Rockies’ leadoff man (career .290 AVG, .337 OBP, and .438 OBP).

Blackmon was an All-Star for the Rockies last season, hitting .288, 19 HR’s, and 72 RBI’s batting first in Denver.  He has shown some wheels in the last year in and a half, stealing 51 bases since the start of the 2014 campaign.  When the Atlanta Braves struggled to man the outfield in spacious Coors Field, Blackmon showed no signs of difficulty getting to gap shots in centerfield for the Rockies.  In my opinion if you can play great centerfield in Denver, you can play centerfield anywhere.

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What perhaps is most intriguing about Charlie Blackmon is that not only is he an All-Star caliber outfielder in the National League, but he is also an Atlanta native.  Blackmon played high school at North Gwinnett and played collegiately at Young Harris and Georgia Tech before getting drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2nd Round of the 2008 Amateur Draft.

Blackmon is still in his late 20’s and has never made a serious payday in the Big Leagues.  If Cameron Maybin goes elsewhere, I would like to see Hart try to bring Charlie Blackmon back to Atlanta to suit up for his hometown Atlanta Braves.  A local product that at time shows the promise of a five-tool player in centerfielder.  Sign me up.

I also believe that Colorado will have difficulty trying to keep Blackmon if they want to sign 3B Nolan Arenado to a long-term deal, while keeping SS Troy Tulowitzki, RF Carlos Gonzalez, and 1B/C Wilin Rosario financially happy.  I’d look at acquire Blackmon in a similar breath as when Hart acquired Nick Markakis this winter:  bringing a local player with baseball savvy home.

Next: Infield Versatility in the Arch City