Sports

Braves center fielder fulfills father's dream by playing for Atlanta

By Zach Klein, WSB-TV
By Zach Klein, WSB-TV

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Growing up in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Ender Inciarte was a New York Yankees fan.

His father, Astolfo? Nope. No pinstripes for him.
"I'm not going to lie," Inciarte said. "I grew up watching the Yankees a lot, but my dad was a huge fan of the Braves. He said, 'When you grow up, I wish you'd play for the Braves.'"

Now, the 25-year-old is in his first Braves camp, having come over from the Arizona Diamondbacks along with minor league pitcher Aaron Blair and shortstop Dansby Swanson, the No. 1 overall draft pick last season.

It was part of the Shelby Miller trade that sent shock waves through Major League Baseball and a trade that Braves bullpen coach Eddie Perez said would happen weeks before it actually went down. During winter ball in Venezuela, Inciarte was working out for a team managed by Perez.  
"I was making fun," Inciarte said. "'Are you going to trade me to the Braves?' and he said, 'We are actually thinking of trading for you.'"
"Stop!" Inciarte said, not wanting to think for a second that the trade would happen, but it did, two weeks later. 
"I've been teasing him," Perez said. "We are going to get you on my team because I like you. You are a very good hitter, good player and a nice guy. That's what we've got in the Braves."
Inciarte can play all three outfield positions, but prefers to roam in center.
"If you ask me, I prefer to play center field," Inciarte said. "I played center field in the minors for a long time, but if I can also be in the lineup playing in the corners I'll be OK."
"He's a guy that's going to go out there and play hard," Perez said. "He's going to give you everything he has in order to win games. He doesn't care if he goes 0-for-4 and we win, because he's going to be happy. He's a winner and that is going to show up."
"We all know, this young team is going to be good," Inciarte said. "The Braves have always been a team that wins a lot, and we know they are building a team because they want to win."
Nearly a decade ago, Inciarte was at the Disney Wide World of Sports, but he was in the stands watching the team he currently plays for.
“I remember I came to a game and I came to watch Eddie (Perez) play against the Cardinals and (Albert) Pujols was playing and Chipper hit a triple. It was a fun day," he said.
While all visits to Braves camp were special, Inciarte remembers one in particular that stood out. 

His father told him "I know this is a lot to ask, but I want you to play like Chipper Jones."
 
Inciarte chuckles now remembering when he said, "Dad, that's a lot to ask."

His father never saw him play in the big leagues. He passed away two years after Ender made his debut, but without question, Astolfo would be proud. 

WSBTV

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