ATLANTA — The long-awaited call came for Braden Shewmake on Friday morning. The Braves’ 25-year-old middle-infield prospect, passed over for a promotion to the majors three times in the past nine months for various reasons, finally heard words he’d dreamed of hearing.
You’re going to the big leagues.
Ben Sestanovich, Braves assistant general manager in charge of player development, called Shewmake at his suburban Gwinnett County apartment and handed the phone to Triple-A Gwinnett manager Matt Tuiasosopo, who told Shewmake he’d be playing for the Braves at Truist Park on Friday night.
“I was at the apartment, about to change the baby’s diaper when I got the call,” said Shewmake, who was with his wife, Emily, and their 10-month-old child.
After getting his hopes up and being let down before, he got the call when he least expected it, since Vaughn Grissom has been filling in for injured shortstop Orlando Arcia and the Braves had utility infielder Ehire Adrianza. But Grissom has four errors and just a .573 OPS in 18 games, and Adrianza was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday for elbow inflammation.
“I just think at this point, I don’t know any better, you know?” Shewmake said, smiling when asked if getting called up now felt nicer because of past…
