The Atlanta Braves are bound to play Charlie Culberson in a game at some point, right?
It has been a minute since the Atlanta Braves recalled Charlie Culberson, but he has yet to debut for the team this season. What gives?
Atlanta brought the veteran infielder up from Triple-A Gwinnett upon placing Ehire Adrianza on the 60-day IL. While the Braves have a loaded roster, and rarely deploy their bench players with any significance, it's been two weeks, man! Eventually, Culberson will make his triumphant return to the Braves infield, but we have to wonder why he was even brought up to Atlanta in the first place.
I think this has more to do with his intangibles than anything, as well as getting noted prospects like Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake more regular playing time with the Gwinnett Stripers.
Why the Atlanta Braves recalled Charlie Culberson but have yet to play him
He may look like Dansby Swanson's older brother. So it wouldn't be the least bit shocking if Culberson took on somewhat of a locker room role like Swanson did last season after Freddie Freeman left for the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency two offseasons ago. Other guys have and will have to step up, but Braves manager Brian Snitker knows what he has in Culberson, alright.
He is the type of player who doesn't need to play every day. Culberson is a professional, capable of playing anywhere in the infield. Besides that sweet hair and beard combo, Culberson is well-received by Braves Country because of his ability to make solid contact with the baseball in winning time. Simply put, he has a bit of that clutch gene in him. He saves his best baseball late.
Overall, the biggest reason why he hasn't played yet since returning to the big-league club was … he wasn't going to. See, this is the reason why Grissom and Shewmake were sent back down. They might be major league players, but neither were going to play every day with Orlando Arcia back and healthy at shortstop. Them being sent down is a way for them to continue getting reps.
Ultimately, this last spot on the Atlanta bench is pretty much used in case of emergencies. So far, Snitker hasn't had the need to wrap his hand in a towel and break glass. Culberson will stay locked in on the Atlanta bench, patiently waiting for his number to be called. Although it is wild that he has been a phantom player for over two weeks now, we didn't see Adrianza play much before him.
Culberson suffices the veteran last spot on the bench guy, possibly being groomed to be a coach.