Why Braves fans need to appreciate Travis d'Arnaud
The Atlanta Braves have had a reliable asset in Travis d'Arnaud since he joined the team in 2020.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos went out and got Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics this offseason to take over as the team's everyday catcher, but d'Arnaud still does a lot of good work and plays often.
In 2020 d'Arnaud was a big part of the Braves' success. He slashed .321/.386/.533 in an effort that earned him a Silver Slugger, with the Long Beach, California native slashing .268/.319/.472 with 18 home runs last season. In the playoffs, he hit .375 - one of the highest marks on the team.
He has been unable to replicate that success at the plate, but that does not mean he has been unproductive.
In his 10th season at the Major League level, d'Arnaud has still made a mark despite not being the everyday catcher. He is hitting .245 with nine home runs and 32 RBI.
As of late, d'Arnaud has been catching some flack from fans.
This is not entirely fair as he has been a solid contributor to what the Braves have accomplished since arriving in Atlanta.
During his tenure with the Braves, d'Arnaud has never turned in a fielding percentage below .990. He has been solid in the field in addition to being consistently productive at the plate.
Braves fans also can not forget the leadership he showed on the 2021 team, that went the distance despite countless injuries. His ability to be, in essence, a 2nd starter was evident when Sean Murphy was slowed by as hamstring injury and Travis started almost every single game in Murphy's absence.
d'Arnaud is a valuable member of the Braves both on and off the field and should be treated as such.
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