Livan Hernandez got his first career save in last night's Braves win at Coors Field.

That guy is about as far from prospect-news as you can get after a Jamie Moyer story, but it's a Braves thread, and that's sort of a WTF moment worth noting. He entered with one out in the 8th inning of a 12-9 game, runner on 1st.

381/.409/.905 (1.314) since the call-up to AA Mississippi. Gattis is quickly moving from “interesting narrative” to “high ceiling prospect.”

I certainly wish the kid well, but five good games for a 25-year in Double-A isn't really enough to move anyone to anything.

I certainly wish the kid well, but five good games for a 25-year in Double-A isn't really enough to move anyone to anything.

Well, it isn't just the five games. It's one month of video game-type numbers, which is quickly reinforcing the idea that his .322/.386/.601 line last year might not be a fluke.

And it's not entirely fair to wave it away as a 25 year old beating up on younger kids. He's going up against players who, for the most part, have more baseball experience than he does.

And it's not entirely fair to wave it away as a 25 year old beating up on younger kids. He's going up against players who, for the most part, have more baseball experience than he does.

Yeah, if this was a three time repeater in the low minors "putting it together" as he aged beyond the league I wouldn't really be that interested in him. But Gattis has a back-story that makes his performance over the last two seasons a truly interesting narrative, not merely from a Bob-Costas-covering-an-Olympian-with-schmaltz sort of way, but in a "this guy could seriously contend as the Braves starting LF in 2013 sort of way.

Yes, Gattis didn't play baseball for a few years after high school when he lived as an itinerant spiritual seeker and was also in rehab at one point. Eventually he got into a college program where he caught the attention of the Braves. I'm convinced that he can be a plus hitter in the big leagues.

Given the general dearth of hitting prospects in the Braves system, at least it's something for Braves' fans to take a bit of heart from. And the back story does make him eminently rootable for.