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Hector Olivera Quickly Making an Impact for Braves

By Jonathan Savitske

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Hector Olivera was acquired by the Atlanta Braves before the July 31st trade deadline in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan, Alex Wood and Jose Peraza.

The Braves had long coveted Hector Olivera’s services, as the club went after him during the offseason, only to be outbid by the Dodgers. Because Los Angeles already paid Olivera a signing bonus, the Braves’ now have 5 years of control over the 30-year-old Cuban defector at third-base.

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President of Baseball Operations John Hart has been insistent that Hector Olivera can be a mainstay in the Braves’ lineup for years to come, providing protection for Freddie Freeman in the batting order while being a 20 home-run and .300 hitter. Many fans felt that the Braves overpaid for Olivera in late July by giving up consistent starter in Alex Wood and a top prospect in Jose Peraza.

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    • Despite any misgivings that fans and commentators may have had about Hector Olivera, or any doubt about his ability given his age or his lack of hitting during his rehab assignment, Olivera is finally coming around to make an impact on the Atlanta Braves.

    Since making his Major League debut on September 1st against the Miami Marlins, Hector Olivera has had his ups and downs. He did not record a hit until his second game, and has not started every game in the past week as Fredi Gonzalez has opted to pencil in Adonis Garcia for a couple of contests.

    Regardless of Hector Olivera’s shortcomings, he is finally beginning to give fans a glimpse of the player he is capable of being at the major league level. During Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Olivera went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and his first career home-run, a two-run shot in the top of the 9th inning that gave the Braves insurance to snap their 12 game losing streak. He recorded 4 RBI’s in the game, and displayed his ability at the plate to hit seemingly un-hittable pitches.

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    Though Hector Olivera is only hitting .200 after a week with the Braves, I believe that he is finally acclimating to facing major league pitching. Of course, his defense so far has been spotty at best, while he is also prone to injury, Olivera could be a vital piece for the Braves going forward. Playing with an offense that has been futile at the plate recently, Hector Olivera showed on Monday his importance as a run manufacturer.

    After much speculation following the trade from the Dodgers, Hector Olivera is now showing the Braves — little by little — what he can do for the club. Over the next month, he will continue to grow accustomed to the majors, improving his ability to adapt to higher caliber pitching while giving himself the opportunity to make an impact on a team that is playing for the future.

    Next: Atlanta Braves Snap 12-Game Losing Streak, Beat Phils 7-2

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