Brent Lillibridge was so close to his major league dream.
The Jackson High School graduate was even at the right ball park, and just two days away from the Atlanta Braves’ opening day when he was called into manager Bobby Cox’s office. It was then, just before an exhibition game at Turner Field, that Cox told Lillibridge his shot at the majors would have to wait.
“They brought me into Bobby Cox’s office, I talked to Bobby, and he explained the situation,” Lillibridge said in a phone interview Saturday. “He told me I had a great spring and did really well. He said. ‘You never know what’s going to happen, play hard, do well in Richmond, and we’ll see you soon.’”
Lillibridge, a shortstop who has climbed quickly through the minor leagues since being drafted in 2005 following his junior year at Washington, almost made the majors for the first time this spring.
Braves utility infielder Omar Infante suffered a broken hand in winter ball, and is expected to miss the first month of the season. It looked like Lillibridge and Martin Prado might share that job, but the Braves claimed infielder Ruben Gotay off waivers Friday, sending Lillibridge to Class AAA Richmond.
Rather than dwell on the negative of being sent to AAA, Lillibridge is focusing on the positives, knowing that an opportunity to join the Braves could come up at any time.
“I’m hoping that what this is saying is that they’re waiting for me to be a starter,” Lillibridge said. “They don’t want me to rot on the bench for a while and not get at-bats. I believe that I can be a big league starter, and once the opportunity arises, whether it’s at shortstop or second base, this is motivation to have a great start of the year and just wait for my chance. Baseball is a long season and you never know what’s going to happen. I’m not wishing it upon anybody, but somebody could go down hurt and I could be up next week. You just never know.”
The Braves believe they have their shortstop of the future in Yunel Escobar, but Lillibridge is confident that his major league opportunity, in one way or another, will come up soon. When it does, Lillibridge says he’ll be ready.
“Absolutely,” Lillibridge said when asked if he’s ready to play in the majors. “You’ve got to have a quiet confidence in your game and stay humble at the same time. It’s a thin line, but I definitely believe — I’ve seen the players at this level in spring training and stuff — that I belong here. It’s just getting my chance to play. I’ve had success at every level, and I’m just hoping that’s going to continue when I make it on this team. But at the same time, I’m patient. I’m young but I do want to be there. I haven’t been in the minor leagues for that long, but it’s enough for me. I’m ready for the real deal. I’m just going to work my butt off and wait for the call.”
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