LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- After A.J. Pierzynski was ejected from a game last year, Chase d'Arnaud responded to a request for an emergency catcher volunteer by saying, "Well, it's in my blood, my brother catches, so I can do it."
The versatile d'Arnaud, 30, hasn't yet gotten into a game to fill the role his younger brother Travis performs for the Mets, but after being removed from a game that required extra innings last year, he rushed to the Braves bullpen and caught Jim Johnson's warmup pitches.
"He throws such a heavy sinker, I had to make sure I didn't allow the ball to hit my thumb and break it," d'Arnaud said.