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Hector Olivera Records Two Hits in AAA Rehab Game

By Jonathan Savitske

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Hector Olivera was acquired by the Atlanta Braves last month in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that included Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan and former top prospect Jose Peraza.

Braves fans (myself included) scratched their collective heads at John Hart‘s most recent acquisition. Hector Olivera is on the wrong side of 30, injury prone, and has yet to play a game in the majors.

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Regardless of how I or any other fans or pundits felt about this particular transaction, the Atlanta Braves’ front-office truly believes that Hector Olivera is an impact bat and will be for years to come, and seem unfazed by the risk of injury to their newest franchise cornerstone. 

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The Braves’ front-office’s faith in Olivera was evidenced this past offseason, as the Braves offered Olivera a $40 million contract, only to be outbid by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now that the Braves have procured Olivera, and have him locked down for the next five years, the only thing that remains is for the 30-year-old Cuban defector to make his debut with Atlanta. His time in an Atlanta Braves uniform is drawing closer, as Hector Olivera played his first rehab game last night up I-85 in Lawrenceville at AAA Gwinnett.

Hector Olivera is still somewhat unknown, even to his peers and coaches throughout the Braves system. The AJC’s Jeff Schultz reported that Gwinnett Manager Bryan Snitker still did not know a thing about the third-baseman, but still put him in the lineup at 3rd.

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In his three at-bats on Thursday night, Hector Olivera recorded two hits (both singles). While last night’s game is encouraging for Braves fans, his slash-line while rehabbing with the Braves GCL team and single-A Rome was disappointing to say the least. While rehabbing following the trade from the Dodgers, Hector Olivera went 0-5 in the GCL and then only 1-12 while with the Rome Braves.

Regardless of how Hector Olivera has performed thus far in the minor leagues throughout his rehab assignment, the true litmus test will be to see how he reacts and performs at the big-league level, as he is expected to join the team and become the Atlanta Braves’ new starting third-baseman next week when the Braves return to Atlanta.

It’s obvious that John Hart has placed an immense amount of faith in Hector Olivera. Let’s see what happens next week and evaluate whether the acquisition was worth the asking price a month ago.

Next: Atlanta Braves Offense Falters Again, Lose to Cubs 7-1

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