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Michael Bourn Rebounding Well After Difficult August

By Jonathan Savitske

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Michael Bourn was acquired by the Atlanta Braves in a trade with the Cleveland Indians one month, as the Braves sent Chris Johnson to the Tribe for Bourn and Nick Swisher.

Michael Bourn had a difficult month of August with the Braves, hitting only .156 with a lowly .250 OBP, Bourn has rebounded wonderfully so far in the month of September. Over the course of the last 10 days, Michael Bourn has hit .350 with a .391 on base percentage while slugging .450. Considering how tough it had been last month for Bourn, he finally seems to be turning it around at the plate.

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Last month, Michael Bourn couldn’t buy a hit. He was hitting the ball on the button, but just hitting the ball right to opposing defenders. With Cameron Maybin out for the past 4 games with a scratched cornea, it was incumbent upon Michael Bourn to help alleviate the loss of production in the lineup due to Maybin’s absence. On Wednesday, Bourn was the team’s offensive MVP, leading the team to their first road series win since July 6-8 in Milwaukee. Bourn recorded four hits, including a two-run triple in the 9th inning to make the score 8-1.

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    • After signing a 4 year deal with the Cleveland Indians in 2013, Bourn failed to live up to the expectations of that long-term agreement. Michael Bourn’s reunion with the Braves organization was one of mutual relief on both parts, releasing Bourn from the expectations placed on him with the Tribe while giving him a fresh start again in Atlanta. The move also vindicated the Atlanta Braves, who perhaps short-sightedly let Bourn — who was at the time one of the premier leadoff hitters in the league — walk in favor of going after Melvin Upton Jr.

    Though 32-year-old Bourn has not necessarily aged well at the plate given his struggles in the first half of the 2015 season, it seems that the rumors of his demise may have been greatly exagerated, as Bourn has shown over the past week and a half that he is still a more than capable hitter in the league. With the Atlanta Braves roster in constant flux during John Hart and John Coppolella’s rebuild, Bourn could be jockeying for a roster spot next season with this good play, allowing the Braves to perhaps sell high on Cameron Maybin’s good year.

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    Michael Bourn could also find himself as a movable asset in the near future, especially if he continues to hit well over the rest of the month of September. It’s difficult to gauge what players will be with the club next season, and Michael Bourn is a player that either could be with the Braves come spring training, or could be shipped off again in the midst of the Braves’ rebuild.

    Before the All-Star Break, Michael Bourn was hitting .222. Following the All-Star Break, Bourn has hit .258. Though .258 is not necessarily impressive, it’s definitely not bad, especially on a team that struggles with manufacturing runs.

    Another advantage of having Bourn on the roster for another year is to mentor top outfield prospect Mallex Smith, a young center-fielder acquired in the Justin Upton trade with the San Diego Padres last offseason, who possesses a similar skill-set to that of Michael Bourn. Both Bourn and Smith are prototypical leadoff hitters, possessing excellent speed and contact hitting abilities.

    Michael Bourn has always been one of my favorite players in the league, and it’s great to see him back with the team. Hopefully his recent success is sustainable, and we’ll see him in a Braves uniform again next season.

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