Baseball is back, and the Grape Fruit League has already brought a few fun stories. A Braves game has already ended on an infraction of the new pitch clock rules, and Dylan Dodd made an impressive debut. Brian Snitker and Aaron Judge also shared a touching moment before a game.
The Red Sox and Braves played over the weekend, and Cal Conley had thought he had just taken a walk-off walk with the bases loaded and two outs. After taking a couple of steps out of the box, the umpire signaled strike three. Game over. Conely wasn’t set in the box as the clock wound under eight seconds. It was just a Spring Training game, but fans got their first taste of the new rules.
One of the most impressive stories from the weekend was Dylan Dodd’s debut. After being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, Dodd has experienced success in the minors. The southpaw accumulated a 3.36 ERA and a 6-2 record across three minor league levels last year, and that success has continued into 2023.
In the same game against the Red Sox, Dodd struck out three batters over two perfect innings on Saturday. He will likely start in Triple-A this season, but if he continues to pitch like this, Braves Country should expect to see him in Atlanta at some point. Matt Olson had an excellent performance against the Red Sox, two-for-two, including a home run.
The Braves faced the Yankees and were absolutely dominated. Atlanta only recorded one hit, while Bryce Elder gave up a grand slam to Jose Trevino before recording an out. The club would eventually fall 7-0, but the story of the afternoon surrounded Aaron Judge, Brian Snitker, and the pair’s respective admiration for one another:
I asked Judge about Snitker seeking him out before the game and he said he was “humbled.”
Judge: “It was amazing, because I’ve been a fan of Brian for quite a few years… To see somebody appreciate your craft, and appreciate your hard work, there’s no bigger compliment.” https://t.co/88W56LW9iM
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) February 26, 2023
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