Braves seeking power surge from Soler

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jorge Soler delivered one of the most memorable moments in Atlanta Braves history with his three-run homer that sparked a the final victory in the 2021 World Series. The Braves would love to see him recreate that success as they prepare for another postseason run by reuniting members of that championship team. Soler, 32, led off and played right field Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, two days after the Braves reacquired him and reliever Luke Jackson — another member of that 2021 team — from San Francisco for reliever Tyler Matzek and minor league infielder Sabin Ceballos. "I did think that one day I'd probably come back," Soler said through a translator before Tuesday's game. "But not as soon as I'm back." Soler opened his second tenure with the Braves by going 0 for 3 in a 6-2 victory, though he also had a two-out walk to load the bases in the seventh inning just before Austin Riley's tiebreaking two-run single put Atlanta ahead for good. This move came less than a month after the Braves signed outfielder Eddie Rosario, MVP of the Braves' 2021 4-2 NL Championship Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soler was the MVP and Jackson pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in Atlanta's 4-2 World Series triumph over the Houston Astros. The moves continued general manager Alex Anthopoulos' history of making big additions at the trade deadline. Three years ago, the Braves hadn't been above .500 all season when Anthopoulos acquired Rosario from Cleveland, Soler from Kansas City and outfielder Joc Pederson from the Chicago Cubs at the deadline. Those additions provided an energy boost. This time, Anthopoulos again wanted to spark a team competing for a seventh straight playoff berth after losing 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace pitcher Spencer Strider to season-ending injuries. The Braves are playing without injured second baseman Ozzie Albies, center fielder Michael Harris II and left-hander Max Fried. They entered Wednesday leading the NL wild-card standings, though only a single game separated the top four teams. Anthopoulos said it was important for the front office to send a message of support by upgrading the roster. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be back and the fact he wants me around," Soler said. "Even more so, I'm just grateful that they gave me the opportunity in '21. Obviously things weren't going well for me in Kansas City, and it feels like they brought me onto the team and kind of gave me another chance in baseball." Three years ago, Soler was batting .192 with a .658 OPS for Kansas City when the Braves acquired him. He hit .269 with a .358 on-base percentage, .524 slugging percentage, 14 homers and 33 RBIs in 55 games with Atlanta. Soler entered Wednesday hitting .240 with a .330 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 40 RBIs in 93 games. He was batting .275 with a .389 on-base percentage, nine homers and 15 RBIs in July. That recent surge made Soler appealing to the Braves, even though their roster construction makes him a somewhat awkward fit. Neither Soler nor Marcell Ozuna, who ranks second in the NL in OPS, had played a single game in the field this year before Wednesday. Manager Brian Snitker said he plans to keep Ozuna in a designated hitter role while playing Soler regularly in right field. "I haven't played in the outfield all year long," Soler said. "I'm excited and a little anxious." Soler also may have been feeling a little restless after he and Jackson endured a weary day of travel. "We had an 11 o'clock flight that turned into a 1:30 that turned into a 5," Jackson said. The two teammates finally landed in Chicago and then took a car west before arriving in Milwaukee about 11:30 p.m. That didn't stop Snitker from putting Soler atop the lineup Wednesday. Soler posted a .380 on-base percentage and .866 OPS the 28 times he batted leadoff for the Giants this season. Braves leadoff hitters have combined to bat .235 with a .315 on-base percentage and .378 slugging percentage this season. "We've been struggling to score runs," Snitker said Tuesday. "Hopefully he can come in and ignite this thing and try to do what he did last time he was here." ___ AP Sports Writer Charles Odum contributed to this report. ___ The story was corrected to show Acuña was the 2023 MVP and that Soler's walk came in the seventh inning. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB