The MLB’s Opening Day has quietly crept up and is now just a few days away. Atlanta will kick of the season with a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies this upcoming Thursday and the expectations are through the roof. I’m stoked.
Before the year picks up and all of my attention is directed towards the lengthy, 162-game season, however, I wanted to throw out a more lighthearted post.
With all the success the Braves organization has seen in recent years, there’s no doubt that these guys know how to party. And with any good party comes alcohol. So today, I’ve taken the initiative to guess each starter’s go-to drink at the bar.
1B – Freddie Freeman
Anyone who follows the Braves knows that Freeman is a simple-minded, old soul. He’s an ordinary guy who happens to possess MVP-caliber talent on the diamond. With such an “Average Joe” personality, I have to assume that Freddie’s drink of choice is light beer, more particularly Michelob Ultra. With a $22-million base salary, I highly doubt he’s sipping on Natural Light or Keystone.
2B – Ozzie Albies
Born in Curacao, Albies is likely well acquainted with the types of cocktails that are best enjoyed on the white sand beaches of the Caribbean. The Silver Slugger infielder wears a palm-tree pendant on his gold chain every time he touches the field to remind him of his roots. Because of the region that Ozzie is from, as well as the energy that he exhibits when he plays, I have a strong feeling that Margaritas are his drink of choice. *play Tequila by The Champs*
SS – Dansby Swanson
A Georgia native, I can imagine that Dansby probably grew up ‘shotgunning’ beers in parking lots much like many high schoolers in the south. After years at Vanderbilt and a five-year career in the MLB, I would argue that his tastes have since changed. Now dating Mallory Pugh of the United States Women’s National Team, I’m going to bet that Swanson is a wine connoisseur who enjoys Cabernet and Pinot Grigio alongside his girlfriend and a charcuterie board.
3B – Austin Riley
Of all the players on this list, Riley is without a doubt the most ‘redneck.’ In the offseason, his social media feed is flooded with images of hunting trips and he’s sponsored by Realtree. As I thought about the list of beverages that fall into the redneck category, whiskey and bourbon are the undisputed champions. For that reason, I’ve got to believe that Riley is a pretty serious fan of Jack and Coke.
LF – Marcell Ozuna
Despite last season being Ozuna’s first on the Braves, he provided a burst of energy to the depth chart that was more than necessary. The “Big Bear” has an electric personality and seems like the type of guy to go after a drink that’s not incredibly tasteful but packs a strong punch. I’m going out on a limb here to say that Marcell is a Mojito guy who probably orders by the pitcher, not the glass.
CF – Cristian Pache
Pache is a bit of a youngster on the team at the ripe age of 22, which means that only recently was he able to start drinking alcohol legally. As someone who turned 21 just last year, I can attest to the fact that the sweet cocktails are the easiest to stomach at first. Consequently, I’m going to guess that the phenom outfielder’s “usual” is a Piña Colada because of its tropical undertones and sweet flavor.
RF – Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña is one of the most exciting young players in baseball right now and it’s mutually agreed upon by Braves fans that he is the future of the franchise. If he were to enjoy a night on the town, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would be letting loose on the dance floor and throwing them back. The animation that he plays with gives me no choice but to reason that he is a proud drinker of Rum and Red Bull.
C – Travis d’Arnaud
d’Arnaud is the biggest question mark on this list, primarily because he joined the Braves just a year ago and was among the most reserved players on the roster. He’s one of the more veteran players on the roster, so I’m going to assume that he has a more sophisticated palate when it comes to spirits. If I had to choose one drink that the catcher would order at the bar, it would have to be the simple, yet sophisticated Dry Martini.
SP – Max Fried
Of all the pitchers in rotation for Atlanta this upcoming year, Fried is perhaps the most rugged of them all. He’s been working on a pretty serious mustache and there’s no denying that he can sling the ball. In many ways, he reminds me a great deal of my brother and that’s why I’m willing to reason that a Bloody Mary is at the top of his drink list.
SP – Mike Soroka
Soroka is the last player on the list and there’s something about the way he carries himself that leads me to believe that he’s an early riser. There’s only a short list of drinks that are socially acceptable to drink at the crack of dawn, so I’m feeling like White Russian is the go-to for this young gunslinger. It only makes sense to throw a warm drink on the list for the native Canadian.
Stanley out.
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