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Atlanta Braves: 5 Key Veterans John Hart Didn’t Move

By John Buhler

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. C. Dr. Phillips HS, Orlando. AJ Pierzynski. 15. player. 17

Good things tend to happen at HoneyBaked, like Braves Skipper Fredi Gonzalez letting slip the AJ Pierzynski signing prior to Christmas.  Pierzynski came to the Atlanta Braves after a long and successful Big League career, mostly in the American League, to act as mentor to young Atlanta Braves catching prospect Christian Bethancourt.

Bethancourt couldn’t get it right with the Big League club this season and is now in AAA Gwinnett learning to receive the baseball and call a sound game.  Atlanta has had the luxury to do this because even at 38 years of age, AJ Pierzynski can still hit and call a great game behind the dish.

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AJ Pierzynski, in my opinion, is the most crucial player to the Atlanta Braves future success of any of theses aforementioned veterans because he will handle the young but promising Atlanta staff.  By calling great games for guys like Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz among others, Atlanta can rapidly accelerate its rebuilding process by having a stellar rotation.  Does that sound familiar?

Though Ryan Lavarnway will spell Pierzynski on occasion, expect the 18-year MLB veteran backstop to catch at least 85% of the games remaining in the 2015 Season.  Sure, Bethancourt might come back up to the Big League club at some point, likely in September when the roster expands to 40 men, but AJ Pierzynski is the guy behind the plate for the 2015 Atlanta Braves.

Next: Arodys Vizcaino: Atlanta Braves' New Closer?

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