‘A movie waiting to happen’: Braves infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. makes first MLB appearance since 2008

Drafted within the fifth round in 2004, infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. made his closing MLB appearance on Sept. 23, 2008, for the San Diego Padres. He played in 19 games that 365 days and never made it aid to the majors — until currently.

Called up by the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, Kazmar Jr. entered the game in opposition to the Chicago Cubs within the fifth inning as a pinch hitter, grounding into a double play.

Along with his at-bat, the 12-365 days, 206-day gap between is the longest since Minnie Miñoso in 1976, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan and the Elias Sports Bureau.

What separates him from Miñoso is that Kazmar Jr. has been enjoying each 365 days since the closing time he saw MLB motion. The 36-365 days-previous has been within the farm methods of the Padres, Seattle Mariners, Unusual York Mets and Braves since 2009.

Braves supervisor Brian Snitker, who used to be Kazmar Jr.’s supervisor for Atlanta’s Class AAA Gwinnett Braves from 2014-2016, acknowledged calling up the infielder used to be one in all the supreme moments in his managerial occupation.

“I belief about here is whenever I obtained this job, I acknowledged one in all the supreme issues that will even happen to me used to be gain Kaz up here,” Snitker told reporters before Saturday’s recreation. “Or no longer it’s a e-book or a movie waiting to happen.”

Snitker when put next the “MVP of spring coaching for the third 365 days in a row” to Freddie Freeman and Cut Markakis in the case of stability, consistency and professionalism.

“This guy’s a baseball rat. I mean, it’s lawful each 365 days when I had even AAA, there’d be about two or three days in July I would maybe also prefer to sit down him down on fable of I was carrying him out. It used to be a form of, ‘Kaz you didn’t register here to play all this,’ but he finally ends up being one in all primarily the most reputable, consistent, better players for your crew each 365 days.”

Kazmar Jr. easiest saw MLB motion in 2008 with the Padres. In 19 games, he hit .205 (8-for-39) with two RBI, 5 walks and 14 strikeouts.

In 16 minor league seasons, he’s hit .259 with a .313 OBP, 98 house runs and 682 RBI. Within the past seven seasons with Gwinnett, he hit .268 with a .311 on-inappropriate share, 37 house runs and 270 RBI in 667 games. In 2019, he pitched in three games, went 1-0 with one strikeout and retired all 9 batters faced.

Apply Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jord_mendoza.

This text in the initiating seemed on USA TODAY: Braves’ Sean Kazmar Jr. performs in first MLB recreation since 2008