Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud enjoying 'wild' hot streak

Caption

Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud speaks with reporters in the Braves clubhouse Monday, April 22, 2024.

Credit: Peter Biello

Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud is currently enjoying a hot streak rarely seen in Braves history. 

In Monday’s 3-0 victory over the Miami Marlins, he hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. It was his fifth homer since Friday. One of those on Friday night was a grand slam.

He describes his recent fortunes at the plate as “wild.”

“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said, “except I’ll keep riding this wave and not try to do too much. The main thing is that we won today and we’re up 1-0 in the series.”

With Monday’s homer, he became the first Brave since the team moved to Milwaukee in 1953 with at least five homers over an eight-at bat span. 

He’s also the first first National Leaguer to do so since Joey Votto in July 2021. 

He’s also faring better when it comes to home runs than most catchers in the majors so far this season. Salvador Pérez of the Kansas City Royals is the only primary catcher with more home runs this season (Pérez has six). 

d’Arnaud says he usually uses the same bat when he’s on a hot streak.

“I’ve always done that though,” he said. “Every time I get a couple hits, I use it until it breaks. So I’ll keep riding it out.”

Whether the bat could become a piece of team history, given the milestone he’s reached with it, is apparently up to the Braves.

“Whenever it breaks, the team can have it,” he said. 

d’Arnaud’s offensive productivity is well-timed, given the recent relative struggles of sluggers Matt Olson and Austin Riley.

Olson reached base once Monday night — a walk — but has been hitless since April 15, when the Braves defeated Houston. Not great for a clean-up hitter.

Austin Riley also reached base on a walk Monday but flied out twice and struck out. In his past 15 games, he’s been batting .274. 

But d’Arnaud, along with MLB’s home run leader and designated hitter Marcel Ozuna, have picked up the slack. Despite not playing their best, the Braves still have the best record in the National League, and are second overall behind the Cleveland Guardians, whom the Braves will at home at Truist Park on Friday for the first of a three-game series.