Braves infielders pay respect to Ron Washington on ‘most emotional day’ of career
By Kristen Wong
The Braves just set a record for having eight members make the 2023 All-Star team, and behind every great player is a just as great coach. Ron Washington, take a bow.
The Atlanta Braves’ championship-caliber roster got its flowers today when the MLB announced the 2023 All-Star roster. A whopping eight Braves players were selected to travel to the Midsummer Classic, a new franchise record since 2003.
What’s more is that this year is the first time any MLB team has had its entire starting infield named to the All-Star squad. Braves’ Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia, and Sean Murphy all got called up to the NL roster, a towering testament to those players’ individual feats as well as their beloved coach.
Braves infield coach Ron Washington has been thrust into the spotlight after Atlanta’s whole starting infield got a much-deserved nod, and for Washington, this beats any other triumphant moment in his coaching tenure.
On this day in June, Washington had the most “emotional” day of his career, even more emotional than his World Series win, presumably.
Braves infield coach Ron Washington gets his flowers, too
Every single Braves infielder is headed to the All-Star game and Ron Washington works with them every single day.
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) July 2, 2023
Wash has been involved in professional baseball for more than 50-years and Ozzie Albies said Wash called today the most emotional day of his career. pic.twitter.com/vmMHthAyDG
This year’s All-Star Game will take place at T-Mobile Park on July 11, and the Braves will account for a quarter of the NL’s 32-man roster. Albies, Atlanta’s second baseman, relayed just how “special” these All-Star nominations were for his teammates and for Washington.
Washington, who famously trained Scott Hatteberg on the Oakland Athletics, has come a long way in his 50-plus-year baseball career. Promoted in 2016 to third base coach, Washington won his first World Series in 2021. He now gets to work with arguably the most talented infield in the MLB as the Braves continue to coast atop the NL East with a 56-27 record.
Under Washington’s tutelage, the Braves’ 1-2-3 punch has been as effective as ever: Matt Olson is leading the NL in both home runs and RBIs, making Braves fans forget all about Freddie Freeman. Ozzie Albies owns a .962 OPS in his last 24 games and rightfully deserves his third career All-Star nod. Austin Riley has declined a bit following his past two sparkling campaigns but is still on pace for another 30-homer season.
The Braves and Ron Washington are doing a happy jig on cloud nine right now. Next stop? Another World Series championship.
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