born august american professional baseball designated hitter catcher major_league_baseball mlb mlb debut april earned nickname white bear raw power capabilities large beard atlanta played catcher occasionally left field premier amateur baseball player dallas area high school anxiety substance abuse led abandon scholarship wandering years returned baseball drafted braves playing minor league baseball braves team opening day roster receiving playing time disabled list won national_league rookie month award april braves primary catcher traded season early life grew texas began playing baseball age parents divorced years old age moved mother house live father new family busy playing baseball processed parents divorce played premier amateur teams dallas teammates played traveling star teams junior olympic games attended high schools dallas area including order play specific coaches projected potential draft pick rounds major_league_baseball mlb draft instead intended attend college play college baseball offered scholarship play base accepted offer wanted play catcher divorce parents anxiety derived fear failing college baseball led abuse alcohol marijuana went draft instead going college mother took drug rehabilitation facility day stay went arizona months therapy living halfway house enrolled junior college oklahoma receiving recruitment phone team coach freshman played half season injured knee burned baseball quit job baseball parking dallas visited sister boulder colorado decided reside sold truck worked pizza ski lift operator depressed unable sleep contemplating suicide entered psychiatric ward days summer diagnosed clinical depression anxiety disorder released care father living colorado seven months moved dallas brother worked met new age spiritual advisor advice followed new_mexico lived worked ski resort months later moved california find spiritual moved wyoming worked national park baseball career college minor leagues decided return baseball step brother college baseball player coach texas basin remembered high school career offered spot team season batting average home runs named player week week ending february conference post season team selected 23rd round mlb draft batted home runs games rookie level year failed opening day roster braves minor league team remained extended spring training added roster class south atlantic league won player week award twice season won batting title season managers teams named post season star team started season starting season batting average home runs runs batted rbis games promoted class southern league end april starting braves prospect regarded excellent catcher shifted left field regular season played batted home runs slugging percentage games leading league home runs slugging percentage earned nickname spanish white bear atlanta braves braves invited spring training non roster player performance starting season disabled list braves added opening day roster share catching duties april major league debut recorded hit major home run second bat batted games named national_league rookie month april batted led major league home runs slugging percentage rbis total bases following return disabled list injury outfielder began play left field braves named month month batting base percentage month leading rbis tying home runs rookie rookie win consecutive rookie month awards disabled list june july strained oblique muscle slump august catching regularly began lose playing time braves sent august play regularly recalled september international_league season ended september cole recorded longest home run calculated feet longest home run history later game hit foot home run flying warning track previous bat quoted saying felt like throwing golf ball driver probably going strongest man competition ended season batting average home runs rbis played total games left field catcher finished tied seventh rookie year offseason surgery remove bone chip knee bothered leaving braves sign free agent new_york_yankees braves manager declared planned start games catcher catching remainder season april win philadelphia_phillies went home run time player accomplished victory april hit career walk home run run shot 10th inning braves victory june game hitting streak went disabled list june disc upper returned braves lineup july hit game winning home run 22nd season miami 10th september new career high braves catcher hit home runs rookie sophomore seasons offseason braves traded intention shifting left field catcher braves traded january said fan texas_rangers youth said good environment houston season hit home runs career high plate appearances spending season primary designated hitter recorded triples despite entering season career triple second slowest player baseball boston_red_sox lost approximately pounds offseason focusing nutrition working personal trainer started games left field catcher designated hitter planned play field season including left field base original position catcher eligible salary arbitration agreed year contract february contract pay million season million club option season underwent surgery february causing miss spring training activated april having missed seven regular season games operation games batted home run seven rbis optioned order transition catcher recalled started catcher day
Evan Gattis