The Atlanta Braves’ Sean Kazmar Jr. bats during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. His last at-bat in the major leagues was in 2008, when he was with the San Diego Padres.
Paul Beaty / Associated PRess
The last time Sean Kazmar Jr. got an at-bat in the big leagues was 2008 when he was with the San Diego Padres.
He’s been itching to get back to the majors ever since.
“You know, obviously it’s crossed my mind, and looking back at those 12 whatever years, 200 days, it kinda flew by in a sense,” said Kazmar.
It flew by in the minor leagues with the Mariners, the Mets and, for the last seven years, the Braves organization, playing for the club’s Triple-A team in Gwinnett.
Because of injuries, the 36-year-old Kazmar was called up to the big leagues Saturday, and even got into the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning.
Atlanta Braves infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. played his first big league game in more than a dozen years Saturday, after toiling for more than a decade in the minor leagues. (Atlanta Braves)
The Braves’ radio broadcast described Kazmar’s teammates cheering him on from the top step of the dugout before he bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Even though he didn’t get a hit, Braves manager Brian Snitker says Kazmar has been through a lot to earn another shot in the majors.
“It’s a big deal. It’s kind of like a guy’s debut almost, a second debut for him,” said Snitker, who managed Kazmar at Gwinnett from 2014-15.
Records show that 12 years is the longest drought between major league appearances by a still-active player in more than 70 years.
Kazmar, a Valdosta native and a father of two, says he still loves the game. And he says it was extra special that his wife and mom were able to catch a red eye flight to Chicago this weekend to see him play.
It’s not clear how much playing time Kazmar will get with the Braves this year. But, he hopes to be ready when and if the opportunity comes again.
“I obviously always dreamed about this opportunity coming up again, and, sure enough, it did,” said Kazmar after Saturday’s game. “Wish the results were a little better, but it was definitely awesome getting out there.”
