MIAMI — Adam Duvall might not have left his mark while playing for the Marlins, but he certainly did when he returned to his former home and showed why the Braves are so thrilled to have him back.
Freddie Freeman drilled a three-run homer and Duvall capped a seven-run fourth inning by denting a portable concession stand with a two-run shot that allowed the Braves to cruise toward a 12-2 win over the Marlins on Monday night at loanDepot park.
“[Duvall] is a great player and everyone loves him here,” Freeman said. “But everyone just loves the person. Everytime he just sees someone, he makes you smile. That helps the clubhouse chemistry, when you bring someone in that you actually love. He’s given us so much over the past couple of years. To bring him back was just a boost of energy.”
As the first-place Braves easily backed Touki Toussaint’s 6 1/3 strong innings and moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the idle Phillies in the National League East, they were reminded of the significant value gained by acquiring Duvall from the Marlins on July 30.
Duvall has tallied five homers since joining the Braves. The 445-foot shot he hit off Paul Campbell in this series opener against the Marlins was the third longest of the 43 home runs he has combined to hit for Atlanta and Miami over the past two seasons. But it’s the only one known to have damaged stadium property.
“Yeah, we heard it,” Freeman said. “Max [Fried] was telling me the only time he could remember anyone hitting a ball up there was [Giancarlo Stanton]. I think he hit it off Rex Brothers and I think his hit the windows. So you don’t see many people clear all of it like [Duvall] did.”
Duvall’s home run was just the eighth to be pulled that far at loanDepot park by a right-handed hitter since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Stanton accounted for six of the others that traveled at least 445 feet, while Yasiel Puig hit the other.
Having gotten ahead with a 2-1 count, Duvall stayed back and launched Campbell’s hanging curveball deep over the left-field wall. For a second, there was reason to wonder if it might hit the closed windows within the domed ballpark. But in its attempt to literally leave the stadium, the ball instead dented the top of a sandwich cart.
Braves manager Brian Snitker was certainly pleased to see a role reversal. After being non-tendered by Atlanta in the offseason, Duvall hit five homers in 38 at-bats against Atlanta this year. Of course, he also hit five in 32 at-bats against the Marlins last year.
“I kept waiting for him to do it,” Snitker said. “He had two at-bats before and I didn’t know if he was going to do it or not. I hope he does to them what he did to us all year.”
Duvall’s latest homer simply added to the fun the Braves have had while winning four straight and 11 of their last 13 games. This August surge has been a result of the shrewd moves Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos made while reconstructing his roster after Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a season-ending right knee injury on July 10.
Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler are among the post-All-Star break acquisitions who have bolstered a lineup that continues to be anchored by Freeman, who has who has seemingly regained the strength he lost when he battled an upper respiratory infection last week. The reigning National League MVP Award winner is 7-for-12 with two homers over the last three games.
As Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson have all surged at the plate recently, they have benefited the recent additions. But the most valuable newcomer has been Duvall, an old friend who likely should have never left Atlanta after last year’s great season.
During the offseason, the Braves discussed signing both Pederson and Duvall to possibly use them in a platoon or everyday roles. Once that plan fizzled, they made the ill-fated decision to sign Marcell Ozuna to a four-year, $65 million deal, which remains in limbo pending his domestic violence arrest.
But to give Anthopoulos credit, he managed to acquire both veterans — Pederson and Duvall — after he was forced to reconstruct his outfield midseason. Pederson has helped lengthen the lineup, especially against right-handed starters, and Duvall has bolstered it with the power he displayed while hitting 16 homers and producing a .833 OPS for Atlanta last year.
Duvall has hit just .203 with a .790 OPS during his first 16 games for the Braves, but his power, defensive contributions and clubhouse presence have all benefited a club that feels very fortunate to have him back.
“We all hated to lose him in the beginning,” Snitker said. “He’s such a great teammate, person and player. He’s still getting better.”
