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Clippings Thursday, May 7, 2020 Braves.com

The Braves' best international signings of all time

By Mark Bowman

ATLANTA -- MLB Pipeline recently released its annual Top 30 International Prospects list for players eligible to sign in the 2020-21 signing period. These young players are the game’s international stars of tomorrow and are following in the footsteps of thousands of international players who laid the groundwork before them. One day, these young men could be remembered among the best players in team history.

These are the Braves’ top five international prospects of all time.

1. Paul Snyder’s decision to visit the then-scantily-scouted small island of Curacao resulted in the Braves landing one of the best center fielders has ever seen. Jones received a $46,000 signing bonus in 1993, and became the game’s best prospect within the next two years. Jones made his Major League debut in August 1996, and two months later, he homered in both of his first two World Series plate appearances.

Jones won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, earned five All-Star selections and finished second in NL MVP Award voting after bashing a franchise-record 51 homers in 2005. He was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2016, and he produced the fourth- highest fWAR (64.3) among position players in club history.

2. Ronald Acuña Jr. Back in 2018, when Acuña was progressing through his NL Rookie of the Year campaign, MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez wrote about why so many teams passed on this phenom from La Sabana, a small coastal village in Venezuela.

Acuña weighed just 160 pounds when Rolando Petit convinced the Braves to provide a $100,000 signing bonus, the amount offered by the Royals, who had the second-highest bid.

Acuña didn't rank among MLB Pipeline's top 30 international prospects in 2014. The only current Braves player to crack that list was , a 21-year-old right-hander who is trying to prove himself as a big league reliever. Meanwhile, Acuña is being considered by some to be the game’s next .

3. Looking back at the Braves’ 2013 international signings, most of the attention was given to Luis Barrios, who never progressed beyond the Gulf Coast League before being released in '16. But while the Braves might have missed on Barrios, they could spend most of this decade continuing to reap the value of having given Albies a $350,000 signing bonus.

If size was an issue for Acuña, there’s reason to wonder why the Braves were willing to take a chance on Albies, who weighed less than 150 pounds when he signed out of Curacao. But Petit recognized the advanced tools possessed by the young infielder, who has proven to be one of the most productive switch-hitters in the game.

Albies, Mickey Mantle and are the only switch-hitters to .275 with at least 50 homers and an .800 OPS through the first three years of their career at age 22 or younger.

4. Javy Lopez Snyder encountered many funny experiences on his way to becoming a member of the Braves Hall of Fame. One of those occurred when he opted to hide under a set of wooden stands in Puerto Rico to prevent the Yankees from knowing he was there to scout Lopez. As he was getting a look at the young that day, his new golf shirt was torn when it got caught on a nail.

So, along with returning home with good news about Lopez, he had to give his wife the bad news about the shirt. But it’s safe to say the incident proved to be quite valuable. After giving Lopez $37,000 in 1987, the Braves found themselves with a catcher who would help them win the and capture two more NL pennants. Lopez was named MVP of the 1996 NL Championship Series, and he finished fifth in NL MVP Award voting after hitting a career-best 43 homers in 2003. 5. Rico Carty Per a story Wynn Montgomery wrote for the Society of Baseball Research, in 1959, Carty received offers from eight Major League clubs and four clubs located within the . After the teenage prospect signed each of these contracts, George Trautman, who ran at the time, ruled in favor of the Milwaukee Braves.

Carty’s tenure with the Braves was tarnished when he missed the 1968 season because of tuberculosis and the '71 season after fracturing his kneecap. But he still ranks first among Braves left fielders in WAR, and the 171 OPS+ he produced in 1970 is the third-best mark constructed during the franchise’s Atlanta era. That’s the same year fans used write-in votes to elect him to the NL’s starting lineup for the All-Star Game.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Looking at Braves’ notable free agents over next 5 winters

By Gabriel Burns, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

We constantly reference how the Braves are in an enviable financial position. Their two young cornerstones, Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies, are signed at under-market deals for at least through 2025 (probably longer, due to club options). The franchise isn’t hampered with any bad contracts, creating freedom to construct the roster how they see fit.

Right now, the system is ranked baseball’s fourth best, according to . And while a decline is soon expected, the team will have so much youth in the majors, and flexibility with its payroll, that won’t be a death sentence.

While the Braves aren’t inclined to commit a massive contract to one player, i.e. Francisco Lindor or , they’ll have plenty of ways to spread the money around. They’ve done just that in the past two offseasons, signing , and to bloated one-year deals.

The team’s financial future is in excellent shape. We briefly looked at the decisions facing the club through the 2024-25 offseason to get an idea of that oft-referenced flexibility. Below are notable free agents through the next five winters.

2020-21 free agents: Starter Cole Hamels, Marcell Ozuna, reliever , reliever , catcher , outfielder , Adeiny Hechavarria, starter Felix Hernandez, reliever , reliever Darren O’Day ($3.5 million team option)

This is a large group with short-term implications. None of these players should command a longer deal except possibly Ozuna, who the Braves likely won’t be desperate to re-sign given two of their best prospects, and Drew Waters, are . Ozuna was signed for one season to fill some of the power lost by Donaldson’s departure.

There could be a loss of leadership if the team finally bids farewell to Markakis and Flowers. Markakis is already the victim of an outfield logjam. Flowers could be kept as a stopgap to 2019 first-rounder . Both players’ production is replaceable. It’s their intangibles that carry more weight (even if some reject the notion).

Melancon and Greene are supposed to solidify the backend of an All-Star bullpen, should there be a season. The Braves wanted to turn their bullpen into one of baseball’s best, even if only for one season. Relievers are volatile and it’s impossible to say how the organization will handle their free agencies.

Should several depart, however, the Braves will be tasked with remaking the unit. Obviously, they already knew that’d be a strong possibility given the one-year contracts.

2021-22 free agents: , catcher Travis d’Arnaud, reliever , starter Mike Foltynewicz, utlityman Charlie Culberson, outfielder ($9 million team option)

Freeman is the most important player whose contract will expire in the next several seasons. The Braves and their franchise pillar will hope to hammer out a deal that removes Freeman from these conversations. ’s recent five-year, $130 million extension is a logical starting point.

Foltynewicz is an interesting case. The Braves, if players develop as intended, will have ample pitching depth. Perhaps Foltynewicz is a more known product by then, but given his erratic performance to date, the team probably won’t be inclined to extend him before next season. That could depend on 2020 results though, if there’s a season.

Culberson was fighting for his roster spot in spring training after being non-tendered last offseason. Martin is a strike-throwing, veteran member of the bullpen. Inciarte might be pinched by the team’s outfield depth, letting them allocate his money elsewhere. D’Arnaud, currently 31, will have completed two seasons with the Braves, but we don’t know how Langeliers and have progressed. 2022-23 free agents: Shortstop , reliever , outfielder , reliever ($13 million team option),

Swanson’s future is unclear. There’s reason to believe he hasn’t reached his potential yet, and even if he has, his defense and speed make him a valuable contributor. It’s likely the Georgia native would want to stay. Swanson’s next two seasons will determine his long-term future (and value), as might the Braves’ alternatives.

Jackson proved an important piece of Atlanta’s bullpen in 2019. In 2020, he’ll be in lower-leverage spots. They’ll have the chance to retain Smith for another season with a club option. The bullpen will probably be heavily altered over the next few seasons.

2023-24 free agents: , starter

By this time, Camargo would have a clear role in the organization. If he’s a utility player, he could still earn a solid payday on the market, like Marwin Gonzalez did two winters ago. If he became an every-day player, even better for him.

Similar can be said of Newcomb, who’d been transitioning back to the rotation before the season’s suspension. The southpaw will be a known commodity at this point.

2024-25 free agents: Starter , starter Max Fried

This is a bit too far to project, but if Soroka and Fried blossom as the Braves expect, they’d hope to have both on longer deals by this point. A healthy Soroka projects to be one of the best starters in the National League at this point, while Fried could be a valuable left-handed member of the rotation.

Braves’ new division rivals: Josh Donaldson and the Twins?

By Mark Bradley, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When he declined to meet Josh Donaldson’s asking price, Alex Anthopoulos knew the third baseman was gone. At that moment, the Braves general didn’t know which team had agreed to pay Donaldson $92 million over four seasons. When Anthopoulos later learned it was Minnesota, as opposed to Washington, he sighed a sigh of semi-consolation.

Said Anthopoulos in January: “I never want to see teams in our division get better. Josh Donaldson makes everybody better. From a selfish standpoint because I know how great a player he is, I’d rather he’s in the than the NL.”

That was then. Now could be different. Owing to COVID-19, the 2020 baseball season — assuming there is one — figures to look different from what anyone could have imagined. As reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, MLB is considering breaking its 30 clubs into three 10-team divisions based on geography, thereby reducing travel. Usual league affiliations will not apply.

It’s believed the Braves would land in an ad hoc Central Division. As would, ahem, the bringer of rain.

The MLB Central is projected to include four teams from the — Brewers, Cubs, Reds and Cardinals — and the entire AL Central. The MLB West would be populated by all 10 teams from the NL and AL West. The five AL East entries would fold in the MLB East, along with four teams from the current NL East. The Pirates would move from the NL Central to the MLB East. The Braves would shift from the NL East to the MLB Central.

It’s the Braves’ geographic lot to be based in a state bordering only one other that holds a baseball franchise. That’s Florida, and the Tampa Bay Rays, who play in St. Petersburg, aren’t quite as close to Cobb County as the . Mileage-wise, Atlanta is nearer St. Louis than Miami. Six of the 10 MLB Central members are on Central time.

Of the 10 teams to qualify for the 2019 playoffs, four would be in the MLB Central — Braves, Brewers, Cardinals and Twins. Two more — Indians and Cubs — finished above .500. If we go FanGraphs’ calculations, eight of the 10 Central teams were projected to finish with winning records.

Given that schedules surely will be reset to feature interdivisional games, there’s not much chance eight MLB Central clubs will finish as winners. (The Tigers and Royals would each have to go, say, 10-70.) Also of note: The four teams FanGraphs projected to win 90-plus games — Dodgers, Astros, Yankees and Rays — would be elsewhere. The Central wouldn’t be as top-heavy as the East or West; it would, however, appear to be more competitive.

It wasn’t so long ago — 2016, to be precise — that the Twins and Braves were chasing baseball’s worst record. After Minnesota won here that Aug. 17, the Braves were 44-79, giving them a five-game cushion in the hunt for the No. 1 draft pick. Apparently coming to their senses, the Twins lost their next 12. By Aug. 31, they were ensconced in the basement, en route to 103 losses. The Braves went 18-10 in September/October, saving interim manager ’s job while forgetting they were supposed to be tanking. By beating Detroit and 1-0 in the final game at , the Braves went from picking No. 2 in 2017 to No. 5. The Twins made the playoffs as a wild card the next year. The Braves won the NL East in 2018. Both were division winners last season; the Twins won 101 games before they were swept by the Yankees in October; the Braves won 97 before holding the Cardinals to 10 runs in the first inning of Game 5 of their NL Division Series. (Long story short: Tanking can work.)

In 2019, when more homers were hit than ever, the Twins hit the most — 307, one more than the Yankees. Donaldson hit 37 in his one season as a Brave. He was the biggest buy of a busy Minnesota winter. They added starting , Homer Bailey and Rich Hill. The latter is 40 and won’t be available until June or July. Michael Pineda, another Minnesota starter, still must serve 39 games of a PED suspension.

The Braves have added once-great starters Cole Hamels and Felix Hernandez, outfielder Marcell Ozuna, catcher Travis d’Arnaud and reliever Will Smith. Their obvious hole was left by Donaldson, who’ll be playing third base for a team that won four more games than the Braves did a year ago. With the Nationals losing and the Mets being without , the Twins look more imposing than any of the teams the Braves, two seasons running, handled in the NL East.

We can’t dismiss the Cubs, under new manager (and ex-Brave) David Ross after finishing third in the NL Central. Cleveland was the only 90-win team to miss the playoffs last year. The rebuilding White Sox added catcher , outfielder Nomar Mazara and Keuchel (also an ex-Brave). After four consecutive 90-loss seasons, the Reds went 75-87 last season and have more pitching than at any time this century. The Brewers are MLB’s serial overachievers, and the Cardinals … well, enough about them.

A half-season (or whatever) in such company would be odd. No #natitude to make us wince. No to boo/plunk. No Mets to giggle about. No Marlins to beat 15 times. And we’ve seen enough over the past two years to have reason to believe the Braves can hang in against anybody, even their old pal Josh.

There’s no guarantee that the above scenario will become reality, and there’s a good chance fans won’t be allowed in any ballpark if it does. That said, temporary residence in the MLB Central would be intriguing.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Atlanta doctors weigh in on fans at stadiums: 'It would scare the dickens out of me'

By Eric Jackson

The University of Georgia’s Jere Morehead joined other college presidents last week by saying he’s anticipating reopening campus for in-person classes this fall. While no final decision has been made, returning could be the first step toward having a college football season this year.

But even if the Bulldogs’ season starts on time, the questions still looms: Will fans be allowed to attend?

Dr. Harold Katner, chief of infectious diseases at Mercer University, said it’s hard to fathom Sanford Stadium being filled to the brim this season as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Georgia approaches 30,000.

“I just can’t see sticking 80,000 people in a stadium,” he said. “It would scare the dickens out of me. It really would.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. infectious disease expert, recently said widespread testing with speedy results would be needed for sports leagues to safely restart their seasons. Katner echoed that same sentiment, saying it would take both instant and accurate results to resume.

“Until we get this rapid test available, it may take 3-7 days to get your results back. I got exposed to a patient and they quarantined me, of course, but it took seven days to get the results back," he said. "I was negative, but was I a false negative case? We’ve had false negatives… So, tests aren’t 100 percent.”

Dr. Christine Zurawski, an Atlanta-based infectious disease specialist, believes it doesn’t currently seem logistically possible to have fans enter stadiums and practice social distancing effectively at college football games this fall. Zurawski, nonetheless, is optimistic that a breakthrough in vaccine development could happen between now and the start of the season.

“The testing is getting better. The more people that get tested, the more we’re going to know more what our baseline situation is," she said. "Within a month or six weeks, things could look completely different than they do right now. So it’s really difficult to say, ‘In August we can get ready for college football games.’… In today’s state, it seems unlikely, but that’s a long time from now.”

Some NFL team owners reportedly are considering stadium renovations to enforce social distance guidelines. Dr. Richard Goodman, professor of medicine at Emory Department of Family of Preventive Medicine, isn’t convinced though that seating arrangements would prevent transmission.

“Even if they’re spaced properly, you have to always consider the possibility that somebody is going to get up and walk right past you without thinking about it, because it’s reflexive," Goodman said. "Or you go out to the restroom or get in line to buy something, you’ll be exposed to people who are not intentionally trying to expose you, but they do nonetheless.” Goodman, who is the lead author on a research study titled "Infectious Diseases in Competitive Sports," pointed to Siena’s men’s basketball team, which was forced to play in an empty arena for nine games in 1989 because of a measles outbreak on campus. He said that could be a situation that could become a temporary normal in the wake of the pandemic.

“The real normal is not going to be achieved for quite a while," he said. "You’re not hearing that as breaking news from me. You’ve heard Dr. Fauci say this dozens of times, and that’s the reality of it. Some people live in denial. Some people live in blissful ignorance. They just don’t want to make the effort to understand what the realities are here, but the realities are is that this going to be around in some form or fashion until we either have effective drugs or an effective vaccine — and the latter is more likely.”

Dr. Jay Varkey, associate professor at Emory University’s Department of Medicine, cautions against those hoping to return to a sporting event this year. Even if NFL fans are able to return to stadiums this fall, Varkey, a longtime Green Bay Packers fan, said it’s probably not worth it.

“Let’s (hypothetically) say myself, I’m clamoring to go to a football game, so I go to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and go see my Packers play the Falcons. I say, ‘Well, I’m willing to take that risk.' If I’m infected at that game, 48 hours later, I could be contagious to the people around me, even before I have any symptoms. That has implications for the patients I see at work, for the co-workers I work with and for my family — none of whom actually made that choice to attend the game. That’s just one person.”

ESPN MLB return-to-play proposal expected within week, sources say

By Jeff Passan

Major League Baseball expects to offer a return-to-play proposal to the MLB Players Association within a week, as teams have begun to encourage players to prepare for a "spring" training that could begin in mid-June and a season that could start in early July, sources familiar with the discussions told ESPN.

Although a significant number of hurdles remain and some industry leaders believe June and July return dates are overly optimistic, ownership's approval of a plan and dialogue about specifics with the union would mark two vital steps toward baseball's return from a season so far delayed six weeks by the coronavirus pandemic.

General managers and managers from at least a dozen teams have reached out to players to suggest that they ramp up baseball activities, those familiar with the conversations -- including executives, players and agents -- told ESPN. Some teams have suggested that players prepare for a spring training that could begin as early as June 10 and a season that could begin July 1, dates first suggested publicly by former player Trevor Plouffe. Other teams, sources said, are being more general in their timetables, understanding the complications that hard dates can cause and wanting instead to nudge players toward being in game shape.

Already, dozens of players are working out at team facilities around the country, according to sources, and the possibility of holding a three- or four-week spring training at teams' home stadiums appeals to a number of stakeholders. After entertaining the ideas of quarantining all players in Arizona or using three- or five-city hubs to hold games, there is momentum toward the league trying to play games in home stadiums, sources said.

The complications could be manifold, whether due to a coronavirus breakout in a city or the risk added by traveling, but the logistical concerns aren't nearly as acute as they would be with the building of hubs. Three player representatives, who have been sending updates to the union's rank and file, believe the union would be more receptive to such a plan because players could spend half their games at home and with their families.

This does not mean the league's proposal to the players' association will be met with open arms. Owners have pushed the league to ask players to take a pay cut because of cratering revenues exacerbated by no fans being allowed in stadiums upon any return. In an agreement between the league and union, players agreed to be paid a prorated portion of their salaries based on games played, which the MLBPA argues covers any lessening of salary players should take.

The potential snags go well beyond money.

Returning to play in this environment poses a risk to players, one they hope is allayed as much as possible in the league's proposal. Multiple players have reached out to the union asking what would happen if they opted not to play in 2020 out of fear for their health or a desire to remain with their families during the pandemic, sources told ESPN. Further, a more direct question was asked by a player during a video call with players that was first reported by The Athletic: What happens if we come back, and a player tests positive?

The league's answer to that question and others is eagerly anticipated by players whose sense of optimism has grown in the past week. At the same time, multiple officials and players have expressed reservation about negotiating an agreement as the country reopens, fearful that by the time the beginning of June rolls around, the climate for the game to return might not be as welcoming. The unknown, sources said, is part of the motivation to start the negotiation process within a week. Not only does MLB need approval from owners and players to start a season, but also officials from the White House and top health officials expect to be consulted and give the go-ahead, sources said. Already MLB has been in contact with federal and state officials, seeking guidance as it maneuvers toward a new .

The look of the game and season will be determined in any agreement between the league and union. Multiple executives have suggested that as many as 50 players will be available for teams to use and that they'll have active rosters of up to 30 players each game. The length of the season, should it start in July, could be from 80 to 100 games.

Any agreement is likely to include contingency plans going forward, sources said. Some officials fear a so-called second wave of coronavirus cases that some health officials have forecast and believe that instead of planning to play into late November, with an expanded playoff system, MLB would be better suited playing a shorter season that gives the league a greater likelihood of avoiding potential complications.

The fallout from COVID-19 already has not only erased a large portion of the 2020 season but also left front offices fearful of the immediate and long-term future. Scouting directors are waiting on the official word but told ESPN that they expect the MLB draft in June to be five rounds instead of the standard 40. Further, though most teams have guaranteed employees pay through the end of May, the delay of baseball beyond July could precipitate a wave of furloughs and layoffs, according to sources.

New York Post

MLB to present players with proposal in major step to start season

By Joel Sherman

By the beginning of next week at the latest — perhaps even before this week is concluded — MLB is planning to present to the Players Association a proposal that will include what is currently the most optimistic hope: What would a season look like if spring training 2.0 began in June and the regular season in July?

The sides are doing this now just in case the rosiest scenario plays out and — among many current hurdles — health officials open up enough locales to allow the renewal of spring training in 6-8 weeks.

The obstacles to returning to play, though, remain significant. The numbers of Americans contracting and dying from the coronavirus are going up in a few areas where MLB wants to play. There have yet to be clear signals that the league will be provided enough green lights to return all the teams to either their home or spring sites and that the clubs will have the equipment, tests and medical personnel necessary to do so.

But MLB recognizes it must initiate a process as if the rosiest scenario will play out because, if indeed it is possible, then there is so much to accomplish between now and then. It is not like you can announce on, say, June 9, that spring camps are opening June 10. There are going to be logistical issues — including getting players from wherever they are to wherever they need to be — made more complicated by the reality that the whole country will not be reopened.

And there is much to settle between MLB and the union, nothing bigger than: 1. Can MLB present a plan that brings confidence to the players that a return can be done with limited health risk and 2. how will the players be paid?

The union is insisting that the agreement of late March assured players they would be paid a prorated allotment of their 2020 salaries based on games played this year. The Commissioner’s Office has stated that agreement specified that further salary remedies would need to be addressed if games were played without the revenues that come from having spectators — and it is understood that at least initially there will be no fans, thus, no money taken in for ticket sales, souvenirs, parking, concessions and luxury suites.

MLB is expected to propose a pay scale in the coming days, the union almost certainly will reject it and this will be one of those items that needs time to be negotiated in the coming weeks, which is why it is important to begin now.

But there is going to be so much more that needs to be covered, including changes in rules such as whether to include the DH in the National League this year, roster size, playoff format. Expect the length of the season to become an area of conflict. The union is on record saying that once it can be done safely, the players want to play as many games as possible — logical since players are paid for the regular season. So even if, for example, the regular season had to be stretched into October to play more games before a November playoff, so be it.

MLB, though, gets its big national TV check for the postseason. And there are public health concerns that cooler weather in the fall will initiate another strong wave of the virus. MLB would not want to get to November, be into the playoffs and have to halt the season again and leave so much of its money on the table.

Will MLB and its players be able to find common ground on all these issues? That is why it is seen as urgent to start now, just in case the best outcome arrives and games can be played in early July. The thought process is if the virus does not allow a return in July, then the sides will have created a framework for, say, a season to start in August. But if they do not begin now then the calendar will begin to work against them just in case they could play in July.

11 Alive

Four Georgia medical professionals get a big surprise from their favorite sports team

As Nurse's Week gets underway, we wanted to say thank you the best way we knew how. So we had some special guests help us out.

ATLANTA — A lot of times, athletes and sports figures are looked at as role models and heroes. But as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 outbreak, it's clear who the real heroes are: doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.

Many have shown their appreciation, and we at 11Alive Sports wanted to do the same as Nurse Appreciation Week gets underway.

While we all have made sacrifices during this time, nurses and doctors have done the same. Some have left their families; they are dealing with isolation on top of working 12 hour shifts.

In addition, there is no escape. There's no going out, and there's no sports.

Many medical professionals are sports fans who miss sports as much as any fan.

To show our appreciation for these nurses, we reached out to several Atlanta sports teams to create a special surprise for a few medical professionals. We reached out to viewers and hospitals to get nominations. We found four who are big Atlanta sports fans and delivered them a special "Thank you."

See the reactions below.

Lindsey Churchill, ICU at St. Mary's Hospital

One of Churchill's friends nominated her. They also informed us she is a new mom who isn't getting to spend time with her 9-month-old son, Cooper, nearly as much as she would like to right now.

They also told us that she is a huge Braves fan. Her father took her to games. Her fandom grew when she met her husband, and now they're exposing Cooper to the Braves early, having his tummy time while replays of the 1995 World Series play in the background.

We teamed up with the Atlanta Braves to have manager Brian Snitker surprise her to say thank you, and he invited the whole family to a future game so Cooper can have his first hot dog.

Tamia D’labik, NICU travel nurse

D'labik was nominated, not only because is she a nurse fighting the outbreak, but she left her family in Atlanta to go to upstate New York where the hospitals are understaffed.

While she normally cares for a couple patients at a time, she provides care for dozens of patients right now. She still tries to give each patient her full attention and get to know them as best she can.

She doesn't get to return home right now, contrary to her previous assignments. FaceTime just isn't the same.

She is a huge Hawks fan because she loves the city and loves the entertainment the games provide. We teamed up with the Atlanta Hawks and had forward Cam Reddish surprise her to thank her. Reddish also invited her to a future game when the season resumes.

Russell Harvey, Supply Chain Manager

While the doctors and nurses deserve appreciation, there are others behind the scenes who are working to make sure hospitals are prepared and equipped to handle patients during this unique time.

Harvey was nominated by his hospital, Piedmont Hospital in Rockdale, because he works around the clock to make sure hospital staff and patients have the personal protective equipment necessary. He and his team prepared early, and it has helped tremendously.

Here is what the hospital said about Harvey:

"Our supply chain teams have worked 7-days a week, often round the clock to find and secure personal protective equipment (PPE) for our hospitals. From day one of this crisis, Russell has worked continuously to ensure our staff members have enough PPE to do their jobs safely. He has coordinated with other Piedmont facilities to obtain needed items, as well as with other community businesses that have donated supplies such as N95 masks, PPE gowns, surgical masks, and more. This is in addition to making sure all regular inventory is ordered and stocked. He has an incredibly stressful job but has kept a smile on his face this entire time. He is a great guy and I would love to see him recognized in some way, if possible."

We teamed up with Georgia Tech to make sure he received a proper "Thank you."

Christina Ales, Trauma Nurse

Ales works in the emergency room at Wellstar Medical Center where they are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak.

She had to leave her dog with her family for some time because of the long days she has to work, which was emotional for her because he is a support system for her. She also has not been able to see her family in Tennessee for quite some time.

She also hasn't seen her other family, the Atlanta United FC supporters, since the Five Stripes had their one and only home game this season before sports shut down.

Ales has been a loyal fan since the beginning, and so we teamed up with Atlanta United to have one of their midfielders surprise her. Her reaction did not disappoint.

We appreciate all those in the medical community doing their part to fight this virus. Thank you to the Braves, Hawks, Georgia Tech and Atlanta United for helping us put smiles on the faces of these medical professionals.

Ales: "We're going to go to work, and we're going to beat the coronavirus and we're going back to games."

11Alive is focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. We want to keep you informed about the latest developments while ensuring that we deliver confirmed, factual information.

We will track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Georgia on this page. Refresh often for new information.