It's Jordan Schafer!
I must say, I was skeptical that the Braves would make the right move here. I was very afraid they would treat Schafer the way they did young pitcher Tommy Hanson, who also had a great spring.
While it is not yet official, the trade of CF Josh Anderson for righthanded minor-league reliever Rudy Darrow certainly suggests that Schafer has claimed the starting job over the competition.
Going into training, it was really down to Schafer and Anderson; Gregor Blanco was a longshot from the start.
Anderson is the speedy guy we picked up a while back from the Astros' minor league system. At this point, he was out of options; only a trade or waivers could remove him from the 40-man roster.
Because of his situation, Josh was the favorite, so the fact that Schafer has played well enough to overcome that really sticks out in my mind. It's a sign that he is ready to play Major League ball.
Schafer brings all five tools to the table. He has speed, power, and control at the plate, plus a solid glove and an incredible arm (see the play at the plate in last Thursday's game against the Blue Jays).
Fantasy baseball managers really should consider picking up Schafer in deep leagues. He could be a contender for Rookie of the Year and should provide solid stats in a standard roto-league.
This is an exciting time for Braves baseball. Jordan Schafer is finally here, and looks like he's everything he was made out to be. Let's hope he keeps it up.
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