Two years later, Jordan Schafer returns to the major leagues
April 5, 2009: In his first at-bat, Jordan Schafer takes Brett Myers deep in Philly. (AP photo)
There was a time when Jordan Schafer seemed a key man in the Braves’ organization, and that time was only two years ago. But his most recent at-bat in the majors came May 31, 2009, which tells us how far he’d fallen.
The Braves traded for Nate McLouth three days after dispatching Schafer, who was hitting .204, to the minors. To say that McLouth has underwhelmed since arriving would be understating. He hit .190 last season and was himself sent to Gwinnett, but the parent club never made the call for Schafer in 2010. Instead it traded for Rick Ankiel.
To recap: The Braves preferred the likes of McLouth and Ankiel to the homegrown prospect they’d liked so much in spring 2009 they made him their starting center fielder coming out of spring training. But now Ankiel is gone and McLouth is hurt and the Braves have promoted Schafer.
In his first series as a big-leaguer, Schafer hit two home runs. (The first came in his first at-bat, off Brett Myers on Opening Night in Philadelphia.) He has hit four in the 25 months since. He lasted only nine minor-league games after his 2009 demotion before a nagging wrist — he’d hurt it in his fourth big-league game but didn’t alert his superiors — ended his season. He had surgery in September, but 2010 was scarcely better. He was sent from Class AAA Gwinnett to Class AA Mississippi in midsummer and hit .201 overall.
Back at Gwinnett this season, Schafer has hit .256 in 42 games with one homer and 21 RBIs. His issue in 2009 was striking out — he did it 63 times in 167 big-league at-bats — and he has done a bit better this season: Twenty-eight strikeouts in 164 at-bats. (Still, his on-base percentage is .309, which isn’t good at any level.)
In 2009 Schafer was the No. 3 prospect in the organization, behind Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward. Today he’s a 24-year-old who’s being summoned only because the Braves were out of outfielders. It’s unclear how much he’ll be asked to play, but he figures to get his chances.
He wasn’t quite ready in 2009, which wasn’t all his fault. (The Braves’ other center field options were Gregor Blanco and Josh Anderson.) Neither was getting hurt. But little Schafer has done of late has made the Braves sit up and take note. If he’s to have any future with the team that drafted him back in 2005, it would behoove him to seize this day.
By Mark Bradley
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97 comments Add your comment
LakeDawg
May 24th, 2011
12:30 am
It’s the Bobby Cox culture that has to be overcome. For years the players on the team were more interested in their Tee time than winning a World Series. Anytime another player called them out on it, he was jettisoned, i.e. David Justice. Give me more Prado’s and Hinskes. It really kills them to make an out. They bring it every night.
Bill
May 24th, 2011
12:31 am
Mather didn’t do crap in AAA but look at him now…Maybe Schafer will do the same.
Larry all the Venom toward Bobby and FG and now you telling fans not to do what you have been doing …..except for Schafer. Ok..I don’t like JS but I wish him well. I do agree with you about 80% of the time but o- well. I just want the Braves to win.
SeanB
May 24th, 2011
12:45 am
what happened to little man… MATT YOUNG? He hit the ball hard everytime he came up to bat>>>>>????
motor
May 24th, 2011
12:50 am
Jordy’s hittin better than Uggla. Of course,so is Jair.
Schaf will fit right in with this lineup.
Our greatest threat to opposing pitchers is Joe Mather(who?)
I think the Braves could actually get negative scores in the next games: Pitts Pirates 4, Atlanta Braves -2
MLB will penalize the bravos for suckin so bad.
scottbravesfan
May 24th, 2011
1:07 am
That’s why you shouldn’t try and play baseball with a broken wrist. You will screw yourself up for good.
Bill
May 24th, 2011
1:32 am
Matt Young has been playing 2b in AAA
Dirty Dawg
May 24th, 2011
2:38 am
Hopefully the kid has come to realize he ain’t no power hitter and will go for putting the ball in play and use his speed. Regardless of his wrist injury, and I don’t recall if they said which wrist, he’ll still have a better arm than McClouth – that kid couldn’t throw out my grand-mother and she’s been dead for 70 years.
TampaDAWG
May 24th, 2011
3:10 am
How about Wilken Ramirez or even giving Joe Mather a chance. Hes been the only one hitting lately at all. Still think they are hung up on this lefty in the batting order thing.
TheAntiMe
May 24th, 2011
3:36 am
I really do hope that Jordan Schafer can make the most of this opportunity. This is probably going to be his last one with the Bravos.
Rocky
May 24th, 2011
3:44 am
I’d say trade Derek Lowe to the Red Sox Straight for Jacoby Ellsbury. This free’s up a ton of money and when Chipper decides to retire and McClouth, and Kawakami coming off the books that’s even more money freed up. The Braves should then sign Jose Reye’s to replace Alex Gonzalez and BJ Upton to take over left field once Prado move’s down to third. That gives the braves a good balance of power and speed. Heywards bat will come around this season. Freeman is starting to get it batting nearly .300 this month with a near .400 OBP. This lineup would be pretty good for the braves next year.
1-SS-Jose Reyes
2-CF-Jacoby Ellsbury
3-3B-Martin Prado
4-RF-Jason Heyward
5-C-Brian McCann
6-2B-Dan Uggla
7-1B-Freddie Freeman
8-RF-BJ Upton
9-Pitcher
Starting Rotation: Tommy Hanson, Jair Jurrgens, Tim Hudson, Brandon Beachy, Julio Teheran
I might even look to trade Tim Hudson should Mike Minor pitch good.
Mark Bradley`s Booster
May 24th, 2011
3:45 am
The Braves are a mess now. Something has to be tried to right the ship. Jordan is here for another try only because of the injuries. I hope he takes this opportunity to show what he can do.
STRETCH
May 24th, 2011
3:53 am
Rocky,
I wish that would happen!
A Free Man
May 24th, 2011
4:41 am
When a life time “has been” (Joe Mather) is the best player on your team — what does that tell you? Welcome to Losersville, USA, everybody. It’s time to blow this sinking ship up and go back to the shipyard and start over. As for Schaefer, I met him about 5 years ago and he is a spoiled, snot nosed brat of a loser. Maybe he’s grown up some since then. Lose the arrogance, humble yourself, and see if you can play this game!
athdog
May 24th, 2011
5:26 am
don’t forget, my revisionist history friends, the reason Blanco didn’t get the job out of spring training two years ago, and couldn’t keep it later in the year, is that he couldn’t get on base.
Larry
May 24th, 2011
7:00 am
Bill,
I’m on Fredi because of what he has control over–his decisions. In fact, I’m on anyone for what they can control, and never for what they can’t. This is why you’ll never hear me talk about someone’s looks or physical handicaps or characteristics but I’ll absolutely get on someone for getting overweight, not hustling out every ground ball, not taking a pitch or two when you’re down a couple of runs late in the game, or hacking indiscriminately and every pitch.
Schafer hasn’t done anything to warrant and special consideration; he also hasn’t said or done anything on or off the field (within his control) to warrant the utter, unabashed hate and vitriol by some here.
All I’m saying is he is an Atlanta Brave right now so let’s pull for the guy…he may not do a thing during this opportunity but here’s hoping he catches lightening in a bottle!
Arkie
May 24th, 2011
7:04 am
Biggest mistake of 2011 – no Infante in our line-up. Heyward appears to be very injury prone. He may improve to be the player we hoped he would be but I doubt it. If he is a five tool player, I do not see it. Whether we like it or not, we need to start rebuilding instead of renting players for a year or two. No speed, no power, good pitching, great bullpin, average defense = alot of close defeats. We probably have a couple of pitchers that will cost too much to keep.(both)If we do not have OF in our system – go get them. Sometimes JS (and Wren) you run out of bandaids. Good pitching will keep us in alot of games this year, but hits score runs = winning.
Spud Webb
May 24th, 2011
7:41 am
interesting, hope the kid can make it. He acts as though he’s Gods gift to triple A baseball, despite some not too good stats.
That said, I do hope he can make it stick this time. Shaff can make us all forget about Nate???
jeffrey d
May 24th, 2011
7:44 am
Considering
EminemSchafer wasn’t hitting well in the minors, I don’t think we should have too high expectations for him.markbradleyeatsbugers
May 24th, 2011
7:45 am
hi
Kreate
May 24th, 2011
7:51 am
“He wasn’t quite ready in 2009, which wasn’t all his fault.”
Um.. he appeared ready to me, then HE HURT HIS WRIST! Why does this keep getting ignored, or at least the fact that it can take well over a year for such an injury to be 100%? Yet everyone consistently bashes Schafer for falling to double A. If he’s 100% now, give him a little more time.
I hope he seizes his opportunity here.
GT
May 24th, 2011
7:56 am
This kid tested positive for the juice a few years ago? I didn’t like the way he handled himself after that, it was never his fault. He doesn’t seem like a Braves type player. Messing with steroids in this era? Maybe he can take a shot of the stuff and strengthen his brains a little.
jeffrey d
May 24th, 2011
7:56 am
GT – Schafer’s never tested positive.
And have you seen Schafer??
GT
May 24th, 2011
8:14 am
Something happened and he was suspended. I can remember him getting interviewed. Anyway my theory is his results before were artificial and now he is living in real time and not doing so good. I’ll research it. Thanks for the correction.
Bill
May 24th, 2011
8:17 am
Larry I do respect your opinion. I do have a different opinion of JS than you but I’ll just leave it at that. I do hope he with get the job done and maybe I’ll change my opinion.
Hope Schafer and Minor learn how to wear their hats.. Go Braves..
.
May 24th, 2011
8:17 am
Rumor was he was with wrong people that had HGH are used it.
GT
May 24th, 2011
8:18 am
In April of 2008 he was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after being accused of HGH use. However, he never tested positive for HGH, nor was he proven to have purchased HGH. I have no idea what that means but he is an anemic looking thing isn’t he.
Joey
May 24th, 2011
8:19 am
Somebody get him some HGH!
phil
May 24th, 2011
8:30 am
Mr. Schafer, back after a long exile….I expect him to set the world on fire, precisely because no one expects him to do a single thing this time….no hype this time so maybe we’ll actually get some results….
All the guy has to do is hit .250 and score some runs and it’ll be like striking gold compared to Hurtward and McOut…
As for Uggly, if he’ll just hit.200, we’ll win the world series…..
Jimmy Crack
May 24th, 2011
8:42 am
Baseball is soooooooooooooooo boring now more than ever. Very few players can hit for power and averages across the board are way down. Players are going on the DL like a conga line. Bring back the juice or juice the ball or something!
Delbert D.
May 24th, 2011
8:45 am
It’s going to be a rough couple of weeks.
phil
May 24th, 2011
8:48 am
One thing’s for dang sure….the Braves as presently constituted and as they’ve been playing are BEYOND BORING…
It’s a tedious torture to watch strikeout after groundout with nary a walk to be found, much less a stolen base….
Maybe Schafer will help ignite something….then again, he was worse than McOut in 2009….and please, no talk about his wrist….he hasn’t hit a lick since then either in AAA….
Trooper Taylor's Backwards Hat
May 24th, 2011
8:55 am
He seems like a D-bag… Backwards hat and all..
Just saying.
Jim Tavegia
May 24th, 2011
8:56 am
JH is just an average outfielder I still remember him take the wrong path to fly balls last year and I remember him at the wall take the wrong path and leap and be over 4 feet to the left of a ball he might have caught. Only an above average arm, and now he is our new “Mr. Glass”. He will be going the way of Frenchy soon enough. The Braves outfield is a mess to say the least.
bigeasy830
May 24th, 2011
9:01 am
GT sounds like you wanna have a love child with Schafer. The kid was suspended 50 games for steroid use. He made up some lame story to cover it up but it is what it is. Before the suspension he was very productive in the minors after the suspension he have done nothing. Injuries or not he has done absolutely nothing. Also, Heyward does seem to be injury prone, you can’t produce if you are not on the field. If you are not producing injuries or not I consider that a bust. But, why do the Braves have him hitting in the 2 spot. Chipper is past his prime move him down in the line-up and have Heyward hitting in the 3 spot or clean-up, he would be much more productive there.
Outside Robber
May 24th, 2011
9:09 am
The Braves’ franchise doesn’t need another last gasp failed rook on the roster like Schafer. At the root of it all, they need a new local owner willing to spend $$ on proven talent. This caretaker ownership is a study in frustrated mediocrity with Schafer as its latest poster boy.
Fish Bisch
May 24th, 2011
9:12 am
The Braves already have 2 or 3 Shacfers on the team in Mather, Hernandez, and Hicks. Get better McClouth, at least you are better than all of the clowns that will start in your place.
Bernard
May 24th, 2011
9:21 am
Better luck this time Jordan!
Rbrave
May 24th, 2011
9:39 am
Man, everyone is bitter today! No need to talk about who we should get but how to work around what we have at this point. What to do with Heyward and Uggla. I’m sick of watching Uggla trying to hit and we are hung with that high dollar long term contract at least Chipper performs when he’s in there. We need to play the guys who are producing (only a few)Hinske. When they get cold try again with the others and see if they learned anything or maybe some time off watching so all of the obliques can heal. We’re only 3.5 out so it’s not panic time but we do have to change things a bit. Can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Need to take a couple from the Pie Rats.
scott case
May 24th, 2011
10:51 am
All he has to do is get on base — JUST GET ON BASE KID. How novel would it be to see a Brave swipe a bag and put a little pressure on the opposing pitcher?
Wally Butts
May 24th, 2011
11:07 am
Braves should have kept Diaz…….Dumb move Wren
FACTS
May 24th, 2011
11:18 am
Good luck Shafer the Braves are hitting like crap right now so if you can come in & hit a decent .275 you may latch on with the squad & make it in the big time.
hobnail boot
May 24th, 2011
11:47 am
Why not Castanza? He’s hitting 292 with 10 SBs playing the same position on the same team. He hit 319 in International league play last year with 34 SBs. At least he can get the bat on the ball.
Joseph
May 24th, 2011
12:13 pm
This is pathetic! Please find a new team with all these comments. Half of you were praising Wren when he got Uggla,now he’s the problem? Fact is we have a good team with better than average pitching and average offense at best. In the end we will be right there challanging for the wild card! Get in the playoffs and who knows what will happen. Please remember this is May 24th not Aug 24th you bunch of fairweather fans!
alex
May 24th, 2011
12:36 pm
Joseph, in order to win the wild card, we’ll probably have to be better than the rockies or reds or the brewers:ok mabye we should be better than the brewers( although milwakee is a GREAT place to watch a ballgame). Come on, smell the fertilizer wrenn is shaking on this city:Uggla,mather,hinske(I like him, but everyday?), a tiring chipper,shaefer(or mclouth-pick your poison);other GM’s are either laughing or trembling
to get a chance at our pitching…
OldeFan
May 24th, 2011
1:19 pm
Whether Schafer can hit or not, he cannot play CF. He appears unable to track a ball. They either go right over his head or he falls down, chasing them around the field. It is pathetic. He should never have been in baseball to begin with, let alone the Show. Trade him. Say what you will about McLouth, he can play CF.
Steve
May 24th, 2011
1:50 pm
Geez! The kid is only 24, for Pete’s sake! Give him a chance.
bruce
May 24th, 2011
4:17 pm
Hope Schafer checks in with Matt Diaz today, that should be helpful…. rooting for Schafer to do well.