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MLB

Joe Mather Can Do It All

By
April 18, 2011

Joe Mather can do it all


Joe Mather is one of the newest members of the Gwinnett Braves in 2011. While he is listed on the Gwinnett Braves website as an outfielder, he is way more than that. In the first 10 games of the season alone, Mather has played everywhere from first base to right field.

Claimed on waivers by the Atlanta Braves on November 3, last year from the St. Louis Cardinals, Mather was originally drafted in the third round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the Cardinals. He rose up the ranks of the Cards system, eventually reaching the Majors in 2008. In 54 games as a Cardinal in 2008, Mather batted .241 AVG in 133 at bats with 7 2B, 8 HR as well as maintaining a .780 on base plus slugging average.

Mather was born in Sand Pointe, Idaho, and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He will have to get used to the more humid conditions of Georgia. Mather attended Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee, Arizona in the southern part of Phoenix. It was there where he set the school record for most RBI in a career, with 92 between the years of 1999-2001. He was then drafted straight out of High School and made his professional debut with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League, the rookie league team for the Cardinals.

After two seasons with the Johnson City Cardinals, the utility player bounced around several cities in the US, including stops in Augusta, New Jersey; Davenport, Iowa; Peoria, Illinois; Palm Beach, Florida; Springfield, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; and now Lawrenceville, Georgia.

At the end of the 2008 season, Mather suffered a wrist injury which forced him to have surgery, and sidelined him for the rest of the season. Mather has worked hard to get his way back to form. In 91 games with the Memphis Redbirds last season, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cardinals, Mather hit .275 AVG with 18 doubles, 10 homeruns, 4 triples and 46 RBI. Mather also posted a .790 on base plus slugging percentage average.

The 6'4" outfielder/infielder is determined to get back to the Majors. After failing to make the Atlanta Braves out of Spring Training, Mather was sent down to Gwinnett, where he has taken advantage of the opportunity. So far on the young season Mather has had several multi-hit games, including on Opening Day, when he went 2-for-3, with a double, a run and a stolen base and in the 18-7 rout of Durham on 4/17, where he went 2-for-6, with a 2B, and 2 runs. He has played first base, third base, right field, pinch ran, and been the designated hitter and has not played the same position in consecutive games.

Ultimately, the fans of the G-Braves will come to love Mather, who can really do it all. Big things are expected from Joe, and at 6'4" and 215 pounds, he's big enough to make it happen.