Atlanta Braves Is Johan Camargo the Third Baseman of the Future?

The Atlanta Braves have found an answer to their questions at third base with Johan Camargo. Could Camargo be the third baseman of the future in Atlanta?

Johan Camargo is proving to be a clutch hitter for the Braves and one of the best defenders on Atlanta’s roster.   After getting off to a slow start Camargo has upped his average over .250 knocking in 49 runs and hitting 13 bombs.

Camargo pairs this offensive production with a great ability to defend. He can play multiple positions flashing great glovework the Braves haven’t seen at the hot corner in a long time.

Still, there are doubts as to whether Camargo could be the answer at third base. He is a career .274 hitter but is yet to play in more than 90 games in a season.

Atlanta’s inability to find a starting third baseman has been well covered since Chipper Jones hung up his spikes.  A half-decade later and Braves fans still have questions about who will start at third base long-term?

Adonis Garcia, Chris Johnson, Rio Ruiz, Paul Janish, Juan Francisco, Juan Uribe, and Pedro Ciriaco are some of the answers the Braves have attempted to find at the hot corner.

All names bringing up bad memories, all veterans or failed prospects who weren’t the answer Atlanta was looking for. The only thing these players did successfully is wiping away the production expectations Chipper had instilled at the third base position.

Now Johan Camargo is again changing perspective as he is proving his value both at the plate and defensively. Carmago has hit .278 since the All-Star break and has one walk-off game-winner this season.

Still, there is plenty of reason to be skeptical about Camargo’s production until we have seen a full season of the young third baseman.  Looking at the first half of the season Camargo hit .248 and went through several swoons hitting .205 in May.

What Camargo has done is earn the right to prove he is a long-term starting option in Atlanta. With prospect, Austin Riley’s development slowed by injury Camargo should be given the rest of the season barring an offensive collapse.

The off-season will answer the question as to whether Atlanta believes they have the third baseman of the future in Atlanta. With names like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper set to hit the market the Braves are expected to be big spenders.

How Johan and the Braves finish the season will decide whether the team must chase a third baseman this off-season or if they have finally found the third baseman of the future in Camargo.