ATL All Day
Fansided

Hector Olivera: 2016 Outlook on Atlanta Braves’ 3B

By Matthew Schoettler

facebooktwitterreddit

Hector Olivera made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Atlanta Braves, so let us take a look at what to expect from the third baseman heading into the 2016 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban infielder/outfielder Hector Olivera to a six-year, $62.5M deal in March of 2015. The Dodgers paid nearly half of Olivera’s contract up-front by giving him a $28M signing bonus, and many believed Olivera was the Dodgers’ future third baseman. However, at the 2015 trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Hector Olivera, Zach Bird, and Paco Rodriguez to the Atlanta Braves for Jose Peraza, Alex Wood, and others.

-= Related: Mallex Smith: Atlanta Braves’ Starting Outfielder in 2016? =-

The Atlanta Braves pursued Hector Olivera in the offseason before the 2015 season, but they ultimately lost out to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 30 year old infielder. Olivera carried some injury concerns with him to the United States. Rumors stated that Olivera had a damaged UCL that may require Tommy John surgery; however, that was not the case. After the Dodgers signed Olivera, the team assigned him to Double-A Tulsa, and Olivera made his professional debut on June 5th.

A week after making his professional debut, the Dodgers decided to promote Hector Olivera to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Olivera seemed poised to make his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers later in the summer of 2015, but a hamstring injury sidelined the Cuban star for nearly a month. While on the shelf with his hamstring injury, the Dodgers traded Olivera at the deadline. Following the trade to Atlanta, the Braves assigned Olivera to the GCL Braves to begin his rehab assignment.

More from ATL All Day

Hector Olivera climbed through the Atlanta Braves’ minor league ranks, playing two games for the GCL Braves, four games for Low-A Rome, and 10 games at Triple-A Gwinnett. On September 1st, the Atlanta Braves deemed Olivera ready to make his MLB debut. Olivera played 24 games for the Braves in 2015, hitting two home runs while driving in 11 RBI. Olivera finished the season with a .253/.309/.400 slash line. Despite Hector Olivera making his MLB debut in 2015, he carries rookie eligibility heading into the 2016 season.

It is rare these days that you find a 30 year old rookie, but Hector Olivera is just that. Before making the move to the MLB, Olivera spent 10 seasons in the professional Cuban league. Olivera possessed a high batting average and on-base percentage while in Cuba. He finished his Cuban career with an impressive .323/.407/.505 slash line, and he even flashed some power. Outside of the first two seasons of Olivera’s career, he walked more than he struck out, demonstrating an advanced eye for the strike zone.

Atlanta Braves’ fans received a taste of Hector Olivera in 2015, but what should we expect as he heads into his first full MLB season? Fredi Gonzalez noted at the end of the 2015 season that he expects Olivera to be a full-time contributor to the Braves in 2016. With that being said, Olivera should open the 2016 season as the everyday third baseman, relegating Adonis Garcia to a bench role. Also, Olivera figures to hit in the middle of a struggling Braves lineup. Olivera likely hits fourth (behind Freeman) or fifth (if the team signs an impact bat like Wieters) in the lineup.

While in Cuba, Olivera never played more than 89 games in a season, because the Cuban season is not as long as the MLB season. Thus, this raises durability concerns for someone as far into their career as Olivera. If healthy throughout the 2016 season, Olivera likely finishes the season playing in 140-150 games. It is doubtful Hector Olivera hits like he did in Cuba; the talent pool in the MLB runs laps on the talent pool in Cuba. As a career .323 hitter in Cuba, a modest expectation of hitting .270-.280 in the MLB seems attainable.

More from Atlanta Braves

It waits to be seen how Hector Olivera’s power translates to the MLB. He hit double-digit home runs in five straight seasons (2007-2011) before having a down season in 2013. Do not expect Olivera to be a power source in the Atlanta Braves’ lineup; however, he should hit around 12-15 home runs in his first full season in the MLB. The Braves finished the season in last place in almost every significant hitting category, so any production out of Olivera helps.

The Braves plan on Hector Olivera playing about six weeks of baseball in the Winter League this offseason, so hopefully that helps him gear up for Spring Training and the upcoming season. Look for Olivera to be a key figure in the Braves’ lineup in 2016, and hopefully, he lives up to the hype he had out of Cuba. The Braves gave up one of their best prospects, as well as Alex Wood, in efforts to acquire Olivera. If Olivera hits the ground running in Spring Training next season, he may provide the Braves with some much-needed offense. Braves’ fans, keep your eye on Olivera next season.

Next: Dexter Fowler: Should Atlanta Braves Pursue Outfielder?

More from ATL All Day

Home/Atlanta Braves