Kotchman Heating Up

When the Atlanta Braves traded Mark Teixeira last year to the Angels for first baseman Casey Kotchman, they were expecting a player that would hit for a high average while providing extra-base power with great defense.

Through the first couple weeks of this season, however, defense (0 errors in 245 total chances) was the only part Kotchman was providing.

With a .235 average with a mere two RBIs through the first 10 games of the season, Kotchman was obviously struggling at the plate.

Recently, though, the 26-year-old lefty has progressed.

Since he went 0-for-4 in a 3-0 loss at Pittsburgh on April 17, Kotchman has tallied 28 hits in 79 official at-bats or a .354 batting average. Moreover, he's recorded 10 doubles with two homers and has had at least one base knock in 16 of the last 22 games.

As a result, his average has jumped to a season-high .319 going into tonight's game against New York.

More impressive still, Kotchman has had 10 of his 14 RBIs in the last five games.

Which is yet another sign the Braves are getting a player they hoped for all along.