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The Atlanta Braves‘ theme of competition this spring is not limited to one position. That’s right, unless your last name is Freddie Freeman or Andrelton Simmons, expect there to be speculation and a ton of scrutiny throughout the roster. In this mix is Braves’ top-ranked prospect Jose Peraza, who is expected to compete with at least four players for the top spot at second base.
To go along with Peraza, the Braves signed veteran Alberto Callaspo, Jace Peterson, who was acquired in the Justin Upton trade, current Brave Phil Gosselin and former Brave Kelly Johnson. After last year’s uncertainty with this position, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez along with the front office would love nothing more than to have one constant starter with the others serving as utility players during situational moments.
Callaspo is expected to be Peraza’s top competition being that he is a veteran and would immediately stabilize the position from a defensive standpoint from day one. However, the upside for Peterson is there as he was a top 10 prospect for the San Diego Padres. Like Peraza, Peterson provides speed to go along with a steady bat, the former of which is something the Braves have been lacking for quite some time.
I firmly believe the Braves would love nothing more than to see Peraza separate himself from the pack and make this decision easy for them. While he has not advanced beyond Double-A, what Peraza has shown in the minors apparently is enough to convince the Braves that he is ready to take his game to the next level and compete for the starting job.
While it won’t be a total disappointment should Peraza not perform well, spending time in Triple-A Gwinnett would only delay the inevitable for a player expected to be the next great second baseman for a team not expected to challenge the major players in their division.
His competition is formidable, but for those who have seen him play, the belief is he should come out this spring as the clear-cut front-runner at second base. Doing so would alleviate concerns for Gonzalez and allow him to focus his efforts on other areas of the team. Peraza has the tools to win the job — he just has to go out and do it.
Brandon Williams is an Atlanta Braves writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter, @BfreshAlum4UA, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
