by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Braves catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis has seen his production drop slightly in May.
Gattis was the talk of baseball in April, hitting six home runs in his first month in the majors. Gattis only hit .250 during the month but has seen his average drop to .244 in May. His 24.2 percent strikeout rate is the main culprit. Gattis is working with a poor .263 BABIP, but we don't have enough data to know whether that number will rise. He has the type of skillset that could lead to lower BABIP rates.
The Braves are trying to find playing time for Gattis, even though his on-base percentage has dropped to .297. Gattis can be a useful fill-in/backup player, but he might be stretched as a full-time player. Fantasy owners have enjoyed the power, but he could lose playing time if he doesn't show some growth.
Pointers from teammate help Evan Gattis play hero role
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/19/2013) Braves rookie Evan Gattis hit a go-ahead, two-run homer Saturday against the Dodgers, propelling Atlanta to a 3-1 win. Gattis took advantage of some last-second tips from teammate Justin Upton about hitting against reliever Kenley Jansen.
Gattis said Upton's advice was to avoid cutters that appeared to be bound for the middle of the plate because they would break off the plate. Gattis said Upton's instruction was to wait on a pitch "starting at you, or it looks like it's starting at you. That's going to be the one that you want."
"I remembered (Upton) said something about (Jansen) in the advance meeting, so I wanted to go to him to see what I could get," Gattis said. "Whatever I could get in an at-bat like that was going to help."
Gattis is batting .250 (10 for 40) with two home runs, four doubles and six RBI in 13 May games (10 starts).
Braves looking to squeeze playing time for Evan Gattis
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/18/2013) With Brian McCann and Jason Heyward back from injuries, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez will be looking for ways to give catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis playing time.
"He'll play," Gonzalez told MLB.com. "I'm not going to let him sit around for five, six, seven or eight days in a row."
Gattis has not started in a game since Tuesday. He is hitting .222 with two homers and eight RBI in his last 21 games, after starting the season hitting .279 with five homers and 12 RBI through the first 12 games.
Evan Gattis back in the outfield
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Braves catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis returned to the starting lineup Saturday afternoon against the Giants.
Gattis, who made his fourth start in left field, doubled in the fifth and singled in the sixth as he finished 2 for 4 with a run scored in a 10-1 defeat.
It was his first multi-hit game since May 5. Gattis is hitting .200 (3 for 15) with an RBI in his last four games.
Evan Gattis out of Friday's lineup
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Braves catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis is out of Friday's lineup agaisnt the Giants. Instead, Jordan Schafer is playing right field, with Justin Upton in left field and Brian McCann at catcher.
Gattis started each of the Braves' last three games in left field, going 1 for 11 with five strikeous to lower his season line to .243/.286/.524 in 112 plate appearances.
What to expect from Evan Gattis?
by Joe Polito | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Even before his 0-for-4 Wednesday outing, the Fantasy Baseball Today guys anticipated some growing pains for Braves’ rookie Evan Gattis. So what can owners expect from him for the rest of the season?
Scott White says he sees him more as a Mike Napoli than a J.P. Arencibia, while Al Melchior puts him somewhere in between. Gattis is 6 for 24 so far in May.
Evan Gattis stays in starting lineup
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/6/2013) With catcher Brian McCann making his season debut Monday at Cincinnati, the Braves found a way to keep his slugging replacement from the first month in the starting lineup. Evan Gattis, who started 22 games behind the plate while McCann was sidelined with a shoulder injury, served as the starter in left field and slotted fifth in the batting order, one spot ahead of McCann.
It was Gattis' first start in the outfield this season and pushed regular left fielder Justin Upton to right. The 26-year-old is riding a three-game hitting streak, which includes a pair of extra-base hits and his seventh home run of the season.
Critical weekend for Evan Gattis
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/3/2013) With Brian McCann likely to return from offseason surgery Monday, fellow catcher Evan Gattis has one last weekend to prove he deserves to remain in the starting lineup.
My guess is the Braves are leaning that way anyway. Jason Heyward's recent appendectomy has freed up a spot in the outfield, and manager Fredi Gonzalez has said he wouldn't hesitate to use Gattis there. Still, if Gattis falters over the weekend, the Braves could use it as an excuse to keep giving Reed Johnson and Jordan Schafer at-bats.
The good news is Gattis has shown signs of snapping out of his recent funk, with multiple hits in two of his last three games. The Braves' broadcast team recently noted that he has been working on hitting the other way in batting practice after getting pull-conscious with his early success. Hopefully, it translates to game action.
Evan Gattis is NL Rookie of Month
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/2/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis tailed off toward the end of the month, but was still productive enough to earn the National League Rookie of the Month award for April.
Gattis led NL rookies with six home runs, 16 RBI and a .566 slugging percentage in the month, while hitting .250. He has started games at both first base and catcher for the Braves.
Evan Gattis gets a month to rebound
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/30/2013) With the news that Jason Heyward's recovery from an appendectomy will keep him sidelined until the end of May, Evan Gattis will likely continue getting full-time at-bats. The Braves have said they'll move the catcher to left field when Brian McCann returns (most likely next week), bumping Justin Upton to right field.
If the Braves didn't have an opening for Gattis when McCann returned, his 6-for-38 (.158) slump might have sent him to the bench -- or, worse, the minor leagues.
I think a slump is all it is, as good as Gattis looked over the first couple weeks. Now, he gets a month to prove it, so don't give up on him as your starting catcher in Fantasy.
Evan Gattis could see some time at left field
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis went 1 for 4 and drove in a run during Sunday's series finale against the Tigers. He finished the weekend series against Detroit 2 for 11 with a double and an RBI.
With Brian McCann nearing the end of his DL stint, manager Fredi Gonzalez suggested that Gattis could move to left field, which would shift Justin Upton to right field until Jason Heyward is healthy enough to return to the lineup. Gattis, who is hitting .236 with six home runs and 14 RBI, is not expected to be sent down to the minors when McCann returns.
"Gattis hasn't given us any reason for him not to [stay]," Gonzalez said. "He's hit at the major-league level. He's got six home runs. There's no reason for him to go to Triple-A. We'll see how that dynamic works."
Evan Gattis has another homer
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis hit his sixth home run in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rockies.
Gattis broke a 3-3 tie with the fourth-inning homer off starter Jeff Francis. He finished 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI in the 4-3 victory. It was his third hit in his last 22 at-bats.
Gattis is hitting .250 with six home run and 13 RBI in 56 at-bats.
Evan Gattis even a weapon off bench
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/19/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis earned an increasingly rare day off Thursday against the Pirates, but even that did not stop him from making an impact
Gattis came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of a tied game and immediately put the Braves up. Gattis deposited the third pitch he saw into the left field seats for his fifth home run of the season. That two-run shot provided the difference in a 6-4 win.
The big rookie is now batting .279 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 43 at-bats. The team has experimented with using him at first base, in order to keep his bat in the lineup.
Just call him Everyday Evan Gattis
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/16/2013) At the beginning of the season, the Braves announced their intention to split playing time at catcher roughly evenly between rookie Evan Gattis and veteran Gerald Laird, while waiting for Brian McCann to return from a shoulder injury. Of course, plans can change quickly when you have a player as hot as Gattis has been so far in his major-league career.
Gattis has started eight of the team's first 12 games, and the Braves have made it clear they plan to keep him in the lineup as often as they can, by moving him to first base when Laird is behind the plate. Gattis' .324 batting average and 1.120 on-base plus slugging percentage have made it impossible to keep him out of the lineup for the Braves and Fantasy owners.
The questions moving forward are how much of this can Gattis keep up, and how much will he be able to play when Freddie Freeman and McCann return from their injuries. The latter will have to be handled by Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez when the time comes, and it is a decision I don't envy him having to make as long as Gattis keeps this up. For the former, we can probably say Gattis is hitting over his head in a small sample size, at least a little bit. At the very least, I'll go out on a limb and say Gattis will not finish his rookie year with a top-75 single-season OPS.
Still, Gattis needed just 832 at-bats to establish himself as a strong prospect across four levels in the minors, with a career .920 OPS. By all indications, the guy can flat out rake and does not need much time to get acclimated to a new level of competition. Gattis has a hit in seven of his nine games this season. He is featured in the top-30 in all three of our rankings, and if he keeps playing 5-6 times per week, there is little reason for Fantasy owners not to own him in all formats.
Evan Gattis makes case for defense
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Entering the season, there was some concern regarding Braves catcher Evan Gattis' defense as the team wondered how the 26-year-old rookie would handle the pitching staff. He had already developed a reputation as a strong power hitter, but is now earning praise for his work behind the plate while grasping an everyday role.
"He's not an offensive guy who just cares about hitting," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com on Sunday. "He calls a good game and takes care of the pitchers."
Evan Gattis continues to flex muscle
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/13/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis crushed his third home run in the past four games during Atlanta's 3-1 victory over Washington on Saturday. A day after earning his first start at first base, Gattis was back behind the plate and finished 1 for 3 with a walk to maintain a .333 batting average.
His two-run homer off Stephen Strasburg in the third inning was his fourth of the season -- second only to John Buck (six) for the major-league lead.
"The guy's up there hacking," Strasburg said of Gattis. "I throw one up at his neck and he tomahawks it out."
Braves want Evan Gattis' bat in the lineup
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Rookie catcher Evan Gattis is among the hottest players in baseball through the first two weeks of the season, and the Braves seem intent on getting his bat in the lineup as much as possible, especially against left-handed pitchers.
As a result, he got the nod at first base Friday against Nationals' lefty starter Ross Detwiler. Detwiler has played seven games in the minors at first base, but manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB.com he is confident Gattis can handle the position from time to time.
"He's fine," Gonzalez said. "He's played [the position] before. He looked good. We're not going to ask him to do anything crazy at first base. Really, there is nothing crazy to do at first base but get the ball. He's comfortable with it and we're comfortable with it."
Regular first baseman Freddie Freeman was placed on the disabled list earlier in the week, so Gattis will likely continue to see time at first against lefties, with Gerald Laird starting at catcher.
Evan Gattis earns start at first
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) After hinting at the possibility earlier this week, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez enacted on his decision to start slugging catcher Evan Gattis at first base for Friday's series opener at Washington. Gonzalez said he wanted to keep Gattis' bat in the lineup as he's homered in each of his past two games and has gone deep three times overall in six outings this season.
"He took ground balls, he looks fine," Gonzalez said. "He's played it before. We're not going to ask him to do anything crazy."
Another position in Evan Gattis' future?
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/11/2013) For those worried about what will happen to Braves catcher Evan Gattis when Brain McCann comes off the DL, manager Fredi Gonzalez apparently isn't opposed to trying him at other positions, suggesting after Wednesday's game that he could play Gattis at first base Friday.
"It's hard to take that bat out of the lineup," Gonzalez said. "Hey, I've got two days to think about it. Probably not, but we'll see. I've done crazier stuff. Make sure you tune in."
Of course, first baseman Freddie Freeman will eventually come off the DL as well, but if Gattis proves he's capable of playing several positions (with catcher and left field both already on the list), he doesn't need to be the guy at any one position to get regular at-bats.
The a-little-here, a-little-there approach has worked well for Ben Zobrist in recent years.
Evan Gattis homers again from cleanup spot
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis homered as part of a two-hit game out of the cleanup spot for the second consecutive day Wednesday, going 2 for 4 with three RBI and a walk in Atlanta's win over the Marlins.
Gattis is hitting .391/.440/.826 with three home runs in 25 plate appearances and is making a strong case to remain a regular once Atlanta's lineup gets fully healthy.
Evan Gattis fourth in lineup, first in our hearts
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/10/2013) If the Braves' Evan Gattis was an intriguing Fantasy pickup when he was sitting every other day for Gerald Laird, he's almost a no-brainer now that he's played in three straight.
At least in leagues where every team starts two catchers, he is. In leagues where you start only one, I suppose the expected crunch for at-bats once Brian McCann returns would be justification to avoid him.
Of course, given the level of trust Gattis' bat already has earned him -- he's batting cleanup with Freddie Freeman out -- I'm beginning to wonder if the shortage of at-bats might be more McCann's problem than Gattis'.
Just something to think about if you find yourself rolling the dice on John Buck for no other reason than "job security."
Evan Gattis clubs second homer
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Braves rookie catcher Evan Gattis enjoyed another solid performance as he launched his second home run of the season during Tuesday's contest against the Marlins.
Gattis, who served as the cleanup hitter, took starter Wade LeBlanc deep for a two-run shot in the opening frame. He finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI in a 3-2 victory.
Gattis has a .368/.400/.737 slash line through his first four games played in the majors.
Gattis or Gerald Laird could fill in on an emergency basis, however.
The 26-year-old started his fourth game behind the plate Monday night against the Marlins and is hitting .364 (4 for 11) with a solo homer thus far.
Fredi Gonzalez sticking with catching plans
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Despite Evan Gattis homering in his major-league debut, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has not changed his catching plans. Gattis was back on the bench Thursday against the Phillies.
Gonzalez reiterated that Gattis could earn just as much playing time as the veteran Gerald Laird while Brian McCann continues to rehab from right-shoulder surgery. Laird is slated to be in the starting lineup Saturday for Julio Teheran's season debut, according to MLB.com.
"I like that," Gonzalez said. "They had some success in spring training. You've got a veteran and a rookie. I like that matchup a lot."
Because the Braves have only two catchers on the roster, pinch-hit opportunities will be limited between the two.
"You can roll the dice in the eighth or ninth inning and see how it plays out," Gonzalez said. "But it's a tough feeling when you have to play the rest of the way with no backup catcher."
Evan Gattis homers in major-league debut
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Braves catcher Evan Gattis made his regular-season debut Wednesday, hitting a home run for his only hit in four trips to the plate. He also showed a great rapport with starter Paul Maholm, who pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with Gattis behind the plate.
Gattis is likely to get squeezed for playing time once Brian McCann returns to the starting lineup.
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/3/2013) I just saw that Evan Gattis, the 26-year-old catcher-outfielder with the Josh Hamilton-like backstory, is in the lineup for the Braves Wednesday against the Phillies. In the words of C. Montgomery Burns, "excellent."
I'm not saying he will hit a home run in that game, but judging by his imposing size and his performance in the minors and spring training, he has a pretty good chance. And if he does, someone else may beat you to him on the waiver wire.
True, he'll have to fight for at-bats no matter what he does Wednesday, but with Brian McCann out, he has a chance to carve out a semi-regular role for himself.
And once he gains catcher eligibility, semi-regular at-bats will be enough for him to matter in mixed leagues, especially two-catcher formats.
Making up for lost hype on Evan Gattis
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/27/2013) So who saw Evan Gattis being named the Braves' starting catcher -- or at least a co-starting catcher with Gerald Laird -- at the start of spring training?
Personally, I thought he was an outfielder now and that the acquisition of Justin Upton eliminated his chances of claiming a significant role. And so I let him fly under the radar, thinking I'd have my chance to address him later.
Time to make up for lost hype.
Guys, Gattis has monster power, and he's already a finished product at age 26. The only reason you may not have heard of him until this spring is because he was out of baseball for four years. He's good enough that he might remain a co-starter behind the plate even after Brian McCann returns.
Don't sleep on him, especially in two-catcher leagues.
Patience with Evan Gattis will pay off
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/27/2013) With Evan Gattis emerging as the likely filler for Brian McCann, it's all but a certainty that he'll have early season value, as he carries a big bat and natural talent. But once McCann returns, Gattis will struggle to find at-bats with the Braves. Someone will get hurt, though, and Gattis will eventually slot into a position (he played 37 games in the outfield in 2012) that gives him everyday at-bats.
With catcher eligibility, this could be a boon to a Fantasy team. But you'll have to weather that stretch in between where Gattis will probably play sparingly. It'll be worth it. Add Gattis to your team now, enjoy the early stats, then just let him ride your bench until that opportunity arises for him later in the season. You'll have a hot-hitting catcher getting lots of at-bats for you when it does.
Evan Gattis could catch more than Gerald Laird
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/27/2013) Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Evan Gattis could split playing time with Gerald Laird or possibly even catch more games than Laird. Gattis made the opening day roster with Brian McCann (shoulder) beginning the season on the 15-day disabled list.
Jon Heyman: Evan Gattis will make team
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/27/2013) CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports Braves prospect Evan Gattis will make the roster as a catcher with Brian McCann (shoulder) not expected back until at least mid-April. Gattis is batting .358 (19 for 53) with five doubles, five homers and 15 RBI in 22 spring games.
Evan Gattis fighting for final spot
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) Braves prospect Evan Gattis and Matt Pagnozzi are vying for the final spot on the roster, MLB.com reports.
"Everybody on the team is pretty much set," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Now the battle is, 'Who do you take behind the plate to complement [Gerald] Laird?'"
Gattis, who is the team's No. 16 prospect according to MLB.com, may have the upper hand. He is batting .358 (19 for 53) with five doubles and five home runs in 22 games this spring. Pagnozzi is hitting .310 (9 for 29) with no homers and five RBI in 14 Grapefruit League games.
Miller: Evan Gattis on Braves' radar
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/14/2013) CBSSports.com Senior Columnist Scott Miller reports Braves prospect Evan Gattis could play his way into the starting catcher job. With the Braves needing options behind the plate with Brian McCann (shoulder) expected to miss the start of the season, Gattis has played well enough this spring for the Braves to consider using him as the starting catcher and leaving Gerald Laird in the backup role. Gattis is batting .448 (13 for 29) with two homers, five doubles, seven runs and 10 RBI in 15 spring games.
Gattis not slowing down
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/8/2013) Braves power-hitting prospect Evan Gattis, who is competing for a spot as a reserve outfielder and catcher, had a big game Friday at the Astros, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, four RBI and three runs scored. He has two home runs in 25 at-bats this spring.
Gattis starts spring with HR
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Atlanta outfield prospect Evan Gattis started as the designated hitter in the Grapefruit League game Saturday against the Yankees. Gattis, who has an outside shot at breaking camp with the Braves, perhaps as the team's backup catcher, had a nice offensive game Saturday. He homered in the sixth inning for a two-run shot off Mikey O'Brien and added a double. Gattis went 2 for 3 in the game.
Gattis might find way onto roster
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/5/2013) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Braves outfield prospect Evan Gattis might be an option to be the team's backup catcher to begin the season if starter Brian McCann (shoulder) isn't ready. "He’s going to catch a little bit in spring training, play a little left field which he picked up last year in the minor leagues," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "His bat is what’s going to play but having the opportunity to see him play a couple different positions always helps. It’s always nice to have a guy on your roster who could be that third catcher."
Braves talking up Gattis
(12/17/2012) CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Danny Knobler reported Monday that the Braves have told teams prospect Evan Gattis could be the starting left fielder for the club in 2013. Gattis batted .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 74 games between three stops in the minors last season.
