Yunel Escobar to Play Third Base for the Braves in the Absence of Chipper Jones

Thescuttlebutt is that Escobar will get the bulk of time in Jones’ absence, the veteran will be placed on the 15-Day DL Saturday with a hand injury; concerns are there may be ligament damage. The Double-A Mississippi Braves have announced shortstop Brent Lillibridge has been promoted to Triple-A Richmond to take Escobar’s place.

Escobar has been hot in the Triple-A International League hitting .351 in the month of May, a .333/.379/.456 performance on the season; fifth in the IL batting title race. The 24-year-old has decent defensive skills, and the ability to make contact evidenced by a 27/14 K:BB ratio in 46 games this year, has hit the same in every situation throughout his career. He has gap-to-gap power capable of using the whole field with good speed on the base paths, but not a burner with upper theft abilities; a fine shortstop prospect in the Orlando Cabrera mold – slightly below defensively -- but has disappointed many for never driving the ball for home run potential, possibly a byproduct of his swing-first approach at the plate. While he’s the best option for the Braves at present he’s not a good long-term fit as a third baseman. His skills lend themselves to the middle position, possibly a utility player at worst.

I wouldn’t expect too much this go-round, his approach at the plate should find him behind and in trouble often against the better class of pitcher; the learning curve issue for the aggressive types. Long term I suspect he won't be with the Braves with Edgar Renteria signed through 2008 and Elvis Andrus -- the younger and more highly-touted prospect -- possibly ready to challenge for the role then, but, opportunity has a way of changing these views. And I'd be remiss if I failed to note the aforementioned Lillibridge as a potential major league middle infielder in any long-term Braves discussion.