The Atlanta Braves have hit a rough patch, winning only three of their last 10 games and watching their NL East advantage shrink to three games. Their offensive struggles have played a major role, with shortstop Jim Jarvis among those who have cooled off dramatically.
Jarvis made an impressive debut after being called up on July 2 and quickly earned Walt Weiss’ confidence as Atlanta’s starting shortstop.
While his defense remained solid, his production at the plate steadily declined. Over the past 30 days, Jarvis hit just .176 with 15 hits, seven walks and 18 strikeouts. His struggles became even more severe over his last seven games, when he managed only a .059 batting average and a .200 on-base percentage.
For a player whose biggest offensive asset is his speed, those numbers simply were not sustainable. The Braves ultimately decided to send Jarvis back to Triple-A Gwinnett, hoping he can rediscover the form that initially earned him a starting role.
Braves Send Jim Jarvis to Triple-A, Recall Brewer Hicklen
Atlanta promoted outfielder Brewer Hicklen to take Jarvis’ spot on the roster. Hicklen brings a stronger offensive profile and previously impressed during his time with the Braves, batting .368 across eight MLB games.
He has also continued producing at Triple-A, posting a .302/.373/.520 slash line with 15 doubles, 18 home runs, 30 stolen bases and an .893 OPS in 96 games.
The move also appears to cement Mauricio Dubon as Atlanta’s primary shortstop moving forward. Ha-Seong Kim could receive occasional starts when Dubon is needed elsewhere, but Dubon has done enough to establish himself as the Braves’ everyday option at the position.
Hicklen has also picked things up at the plate recently, recording 17 hits over his last 15 games while batting .321 with a .351 on-base percentage and a .377 slugging percentage.
Combined with his strong defensive ability, his recent production gives Atlanta plenty of reason to believe he can provide a boost as the team tries to stabilize its roster.
