More than 12 years later, Sean Kazmar is a major leaguer again.
The Braves promoted Kazmar, 36, to their major league roster Saturday. The long-time Triple-A Gwinnett infielder was last in the majors in 2008 with the Padres, when he hit .205 in 19 games. Those are the only MLB games he’s played in his career. Some of Kazmar’s teammates on those 63-99 Padres: Greg Maddux, Jake Peavy, Scott Hairston, Brian Giles and Jim Edmonds.
Kazmar appeared as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field and grounded into a double play. Before then, Kazmar last played in an MLB game Sept. 23, 2008. That was 4,589 days ago as of Saturday — almost 151 months and almost 655 weeks. That was the longest such streak among MLB players in nearly 72 years, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Ralph Winegarner went 13 years, 14 days between appearances, from June 23, 1936 (Cleveland) until July 7, 1949 (St. Louis Browns).
“That was one of the greatest moments I’ve had as a manager at all the levels,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of telling Kazmar he was promoted. “It’s amazing. It’s a book or movie waiting to happen. You go from ‘08 to 2021, you have to be kidding me. To have the perseverance, the dedication, the drive. And I was just telling guys, he’s getting better as a player. He had a crazy year two years ago before COVID hit. I know it drove him nuts last year (not playing).”
Since his brief stint with San Diego, Kazmar has assembled a long, successful minor league career in the Padres, Mariners, Mets and Braves organizations. Kazmar has been with Gwinnett since 2013 and holds several team records, including most games played (667), hits (620), runs (279), doubles (127), RBIs (270) and total bases (882).
Kazmar, who spends his springs in the big league camp, had a productive exhibition season, with Snitker calling him the team’s spring MVP on multiple occasions. He hit .490/.552/.864 with three homers in 29 plate appearances.
Snitker has always spoken highly of Kazmar, whom he managed in Triple-A from 2014-16 before he became the interim manager of the big league team. He said Kazmar is an “off-the-charts good guy, wonderful father, wonderful family, that’s why everybody loves him. Just an awesome person.” As a baseball player, Snitker remembered Kazmar wanted to be in the lineup every day.
“This guy is a baseball rat,” Snitker said. “Every year, when I had him in Triple-A, there’d be two or three days in July where I’d have to sit him down because I was wearing him out. It’s one of those, ‘Kaz, you didn’t sign up here to play all this.’ But he ends up being one of the most reliable, consistent, better players on your team every year.”
Fast forward to Friday, when second baseman Ozzie Albies was hit in the calf by a pitch and forced out of the game in the ninth inning. Albies’ status hasn’t yet been confirmed, but the Braves, a bit short on depth and dealing with multiple injuries, turned to Kazmar, whose odyssey back to the bigs is complete, no matter how brief a stay it might be.
“He’s the perfect guy right now for where we’re at,” Snitker said. “We need some versatility with Ozzie being dinged and whatnot. Kazmar can play really anywhere on the diamond. He’s a good fit for us right now with the situation we’re in.”
Kazmar’s persistence and commitment was rewarded. He’s an Atlanta Brave in 2021.
