LISTEN: High Praise For This Braves Starter
After beating out Vaughn Grissom in the spring for the starting shortstop job and securing a contract extension earlier this spring, Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia is earning high praise from around baseball.
Former general manager Steve Phillips lauded praise on him on Friday on MLB Network Radio, following Arcia's walk-off hit on Thursday against the Padres.
"There's something about confidence that when somebody tells you that 'you're our guy' and then they pay you to show that you you're their guy, then you feel like the guy and you go out there and play like the guy. And he's the guy right now in Atlanta."
He's entering his eighth Major League season. He spent parts of six years with the Brewers and has spent the last year and a half with the Braves. This will be year three in Atlanta.
Arcia is a career .243 hitter who is coming off a season in which he hit .244. He hit nine home runs and posted 30 RBIs in 2022. He's off to a .370 start this season with two home runs and four RBI.
As part of his new contract, he will make $2.3 million this year, and $2 million in each of 2024 and 2025. Reports indicate that the 2026 option is also for $2 million and comes with a $1 million buyout.
He will now be under team control through age 31.
The Braves continue their weekend against the Padres on Friday night at 7:20 p.m. ET.
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