Braves swiped game-changing element from Mets that could change NL East race

Braves swiped game-changing element from Mets that could change NL East race originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . One of the defining moves in the NL East Division race this offseason may involve someone who only stands in foul territory.

The Atlanta Braves ' new first base coach has arrived from the New York Mets , who wanted him back but were outdone by Atlanta's offer. That's Antoan Richardson, and he could be a pivotal piece in a potential bounceback season for the Braves. Richardson was a little-known MLB player, with his most notable moment being scoring the walk-off run on Derek Jeter's career-ending RBI single.

In the first base coaching box, though, Richardson is great. "Juan Soto stole 57 bases in his first seven seasons in the big leagues, average numbers for a player of average speed. But last year, Soto connected with New York Mets first-base coach Antoan Richardson and became invested in the idea of being a better baserunner," ESPN's Buster Olney wrote in a new article on Friday .

"... Soto (put his mind to it), swiping 38 bases while getting thrown out just four times; it's as if he carried the attention to detail he has had in his intense plate appearances onto the bases, with Richardson's guidance. " MORE: Cubs' Daniel Palencia completes improbable rise for Venezuela Olney added that the Mets did indeed want Richardson back, but that didn't come to fruition.