The Atlanta Braves won the NL East division in 2022, but fell in the first round of the playoffs (the Division Series) to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The situation was very different last year: they entered the playoffs through a small window, having won the East with “just” 88 wins, but defeated everybody in sight and lifted the World Series trophy.
In the Fall Classic, they defeated the Houston Astros in six games.
Today is the first anniversary of that Game 6 in Houston in which the Astros had no answer to the Braves offense.
Everything started with an incredible shot by Jorge Soler, who is no longer in the Braves organization but will be forever tied to their World Series history.
"𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎."
One year ago today, 2021 World Series MVP @solerpower12 sent a baseball into orbit in Game 6. pic.twitter.com/eli0qn8SDP
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) November 2, 2022
Soler Obliterated The Baseball
With two men on base and facing Astros starter Luis Garcia, Soler got a hanging breaking ball that was belt-high.
He sent it over the train tracks at Minute Maid Park.
The ball left the park, and it was one of the most magical moments in recent World Series history.
Soler capped an impressive postseason with a .242/.342/.606 line and three home runs last year.
He played this year with the Miami Marlins after the Braves chose not to retain him.
He was having a subpar season (.695 OPS) when a back injury ended his campaign in early September.
He can opt out of his deal with Miami but will likely stay put.
He is part of Atlanta’s history, though, and today is a good day to remember that.
NEXT: Young Braves Star Fires Back At Foolish Criticism