ATLANTA — As Kyle Wright progresses through this season and beyond, there may be reason to reflect on the potentially significant moment that occurred when Braves manager Brian Snitker enhanced the rejuvenated hurler’s confidence during Friday night’s 3-0 win over the Marlins.
Near the conclusion of the most dominant start of his young career, Wright hit a batter, surrendered a single and issued a walk to load the bases with two outs in the sixth. Snitker popped out of the dugout and headed straight toward his hurler.
“Well, I thought I was obviously done,” Wright said.
So did most of the 40,402 fans who packed a sold-out Truist Park again. Yeah, Wright had been great in his first two starts of this season and yeah, he had been masterful when he was presented a bases-loaded threat during Game 4 of last year’s World Series. But this is also a guy who entered this year having lasted at least five innings in just eight of 18 career starts, including the postseason.
Or, he used to be that guy. Actions speak louder than words, and Wright is doing much more than just saying he has finally found self-confidence. Snitker noticed it in Spring Training, and he saw it again as he looked in the 26-year-old hurler’s eyes during that sixth-inning visit.
“I was going to see what his reaction was,” Snitker said. “I told him, ‘If you’re done, I’ve got somebody ready.’ He said he felt good, and he looked good. You just never know. I don’t…