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There will undoubtedly be loads of fanfare over Brunswick, Ga., native and former Braves high prospect Adam Wainwright pitching in Atlanta this week for the ultimate time in his profession, however there’ll feelings of a special variety with prized rookie Jordan Walker taking part in an MLB sport again in his house state for the primary time.
The 42-year-old Wainwright and the 21-year-old Walker have careers headed in dramatically totally different instructions, however their returns to Georgia might be greeted by related receptions: Both expect greater than 100 family and friends within the stands at Truist Field when the Cards face the surging Braves Tuesday by means of Thursday.
Wainwright’s scheduled Sunday begin was pushed again to assist him higher get better from a robust outing earlier within the week, that means he’ll pitch in Atlanta for the ultimate time. In his 18-year profession, Wainwright has been far more efficient at house — 107 wins, 3.02 ERA — than on the highway — 91 victories, 4.13 ERA — daunting numbers for somebody nonetheless hoping to get two extra victories and 200 for his profession. All-time, Wainwright is 10-4 with a 3.42 ERA towards the Braves franchise that drafted him twenty ninth total in 2000 and traded him to the Cards on Dec. 13, 2003. He was 4-1 at Turner Field, and he’s 1-1 at Truist Field with a complete-game victory to his credit score.
Walker was 1 1/2 years outdated and dwelling in Stone Mountain, Ga., when Wainwright was traded from the Braves to the Cardinals. Much the best way the 6-foot-7 Wainwright blossomed into an enormous league ace out of Georgia, the 6-foot-6 Walker turned The Peach State’s Gatorade Athlete of the Year as a junior at Decatur High School in suburban Atlanta. Walker was headed to Duke on a baseball scholarship earlier than the Cards made him the twenty first choose of the 2020 MLB Draft.
Playing large league baseball in Atlanta, the town the place three generations of household fell in love with the sport, and the place Jordan idolized Chipper Jones and continuously pestered dad, Derek, to take him to Braves video games, is certain to spark reminiscences for him and his household.
“There are going to be a lot of emotions, man,” mentioned Walker, who will hit Atlanta using a six-game hitting streak and a stretch when he has homered in three of his final 4 video games. “I’ve already had a lot of my friends who said they’re coming to the game to support me, but they’re still going to rep their Braves. So, I’m just excited to go back there. I grew up going to games at Turner Field, but now I’ll be at the new park where I saw a few games while I was in high school. We used to go to Braves games all the time, and that was always one of the best experiences for our family, going to those games. So, I’m so excited to go back there and play there.”
For the Walkers, the celebration will start not lengthy after the Cardinals constitution touches down in Atlanta on Monday afternoon. Jordan will head straight to his house in suburban Atlanta for a household grill out and he’s hoping his father will make the tacos he loves so dearly. And not solely will Walker have 150 to 200 family and friends within the stands at Truist Field, they’ll even be sitting near proper area the place Jordan might be positioned.
“It’s going to be so cool and special for our family,” Walker mentioned.
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