- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Current, former Braves surprise local youth
- Updated: May 28, 2016
ATLANTA — There’s something unique about the phrase “Play Ball.”
Whether a Major Leaguer, a former Major Leaguer or an aspiring one, those two words hold a special place.
You could have asked any of the above about that on Saturday morning at Clarkdale Park in Austell, Ga., as current Braves rookies Matt Wisler and Mallex Smith and former teammates Javy Lopez and Brad Clontz represented the team at the Southwest Baseball Association’s annual Early Bird All-Star Baseball Tournament as part of Major League Baseball’s “Play Ball Weekend” initiative.
• Complete Youth Baseball coverage
“It was great,” said Lopez, a 15-year Major Leaguer and three-time All-Star who played with the Braves from 1992 through 2003. “I love to see the kids having fun. That’s what we did today, bring a smile to the kids, to the parents, and they make us feel great.”
“Just watching the kids light up with the surprise of not knowing we were going to be here, to see the kids smiling and giving us high-fives was pretty exciting,” said Clontz, who pitched six seasons in the Majors (1995 to 2000), the first three in Atlanta. “We like to inspire them and get them excited about baseball.”
Former and current Braves played some ball with the kids, then took to the coaching lines.
Wisler got into his role coaching first base for the 12U game …
continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com
