There are many journeymen who rise to the occasion and help their team win a championship. These unlikely heroes can most commonly be found during October baseball, where unpredictability reigns supreme. The 2021 Atlanta Braves boasted a deep roster with the perfect blend of established difference-makers (Freddie Freeman, Charlie Morton and Jorge Soler) and rising stars (Austin Riley, Max Fried and Ozzie Albies), but they would not have won the World Series without the “little guys.”
Utility man Ehire Adrianza was among those players who flew under the radar before striking at the right moment. His lone hit of the playoffs ultimately allowed the Braves to reach their first Fall Classic in more than 20 years.