It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Sean Kazmar (not to be confused with former Rays and Angels ace Scott Kazmir) on a major-league diamond—4,589 days to be exact. But against all odds, Kazmar will be in uniform for the Braves Saturday against the Cubs, marking his triumphant return to MLB after an almost 13-year hiatus. A fifth-round pick of the Padres in 2004, Kazmar debuted in 2008, posting a .205 average with no homers, two RBI and 14 strikeouts in 39 at-bats that season.
However, Kazmar never made it back to the bigs, toiling in the minors for what felt like centuries before finally getting another opportunity Saturday in his ninth year with the Braves organization. The 36-year-old was called up in place of injured second baseman Ozzie Albies, who exited Friday’s series opener after taking a pitch off his right calf. Kazmar isn’t listed in the starting lineup for Saturday’s 2:20 PM ET start at Wrigley, but he is available off the bench and could potentially enter the game as a pinch-hitter or late-inning substitute at second base.
To give you an idea of just how long it’s been since Kazmar played in the majors, here’s the box score (via Sarah Langs of MLB.com) from his last big-league appearance, which came September 23, 2008 at Dodger Stadium. Most of the players in uniform that day haven’t sniffed a big-league roster since the Obama administration.
A .259 career hitter with 98 homers, 682 RBI and 85 stolen bases over 1,670 games on the farm, Kazmar’s improbable return after over a decade spent in minor-league purgatory is the ultimate tale of perseverance, a reminder to never give up on your dreams, no matter how farfetched they might seem.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram