WASHINGTON – Shortstop Dansby Swanson was out of the Braves lineup Saturday for the second time in four days, with manager Brian Snitker saying it was about keeping fellow rookie Johan Camargo in the lineup rather than Swanson’s recent slump.
Camargo responded with three hits including a double in Saturday’s 13-0 rout of the Nationals, giving him multi-hit games in each of his past three starts.
The versatile Camargo had two hits when he started at shortstop Wednesday against the Astros, then two more hits Thursday when he started at third base in a series-opening win against the Nationals. He only got one at-bat Friday, striking out as a pinch-hitter in a 10-inning loss to the Nationals.
Camargo has impressed everyone in his first major league season, batting .307 with 12 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs in 101 at-bats over 39 games, including 23 total starts at three infield positions.
He’s 23-for-67 (.317) with an .859 OPS in his past 20 games and the Braves are 13-4 in that stretch when Camargo had more than one at-bat in a game.
All but five of his starts came at third base, but Freddie Freeman is the regular third baseman for now after returning from the disabled list at the new position so that Freeman’s injury replacement Matt Adams could continue playing first base.
Finding playing time for Camargo won’t be easy and likely will require him to get more starts at shortstop and second base, where veteran Brandon Phillips is in the the final year of his contract and could be traded this month. That would potentially open a regular spot for Camargo as second-base prospect Ozzie Albies continues working on his swing in the minor leagues.
As for Swanson, after batting .333 (29-for-87) with 14 RBIs, seven walks, 12 strikeouts and an .827 OPS in 24 games through June 25, the high-profile rookie was 4-for-30 (.133) with three RBIs, 14 strikeouts and a .445 OPS in his past nine games before Saturday.
