Mar 1, 2019; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Sean Kazmar Jr. (78) hits a lead off single as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Riley Adams (middle) and umpire Joe West (left) look on during the ninth inning at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves infielder Sean Kazmar Jr. was in Triple-A for 12 years before making his Braves debut.
After a brief MLB debut in 2008, Sean Kazmar Jr. spent over a decade at the highest level of the minor leagues before getting the call back to the big leagues.
The 37-year-old infielder was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002, the Oakland A’s in 2003, and the San Diego Padres in 2004. He made his MLB debut on August 13, 2008, but after only 19 games at the big-league level, he was sent back down.
Kazmar spent the next decade and then some playing Triple-A in the Padres, Mets, and Braves systems. He’d been at Triple-A Gwinnett since 2013. Considering only approximately 10 percent of minor leaguers make it to the majors, Kazmar’s chances of getting back were low.
Sean Kazmar Jr. finally got his chance, in the most heart-warming way possible
But in April 2021, Kazmar got a call from Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker. He shared his story on the Farm To Fame podcast, and you’d have to be a robot not to get emotional:
Snitker himself has been with the organization for nearly half a century, first as a player, then as a coach and manager in the minor leagues, and now, finally, as their big-league World Series champion manager. He likely saw something of himself in Kazmar. Except, the Braves manager never made his MLB debut; his playing career ended in the minors. Beginning in 1985, he coached the Braves on and off but kept getting sent down to manage their minor league teams.
Being able to give a journeyman like Kazmar the call when he never got the call himself would be a meaningful moment for Snit, and it’s likely why he went above and beyond to make the moment special for Kazmar.