Ron Washington revels in latest baseball accomplishment as mentor for All-Star infield

For Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington, it’s 53 years and counting in professional baseball.

After nearly two decades as a player and over three decades as a manager and coach including two seasons, 2010 and 2011, as manager of the American League winning Texas Rangers, the New Orleanian will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame on July 29 in Natchitoches.

Now, Washington can add another accomplishment that’s less visible but perhaps equally rewarding.

We see “Wash” waving base-runners home for the winningest team in the major leagues. What we don’t see is his constant work as infield coach for the National League East leaders.

His work is a major reason why the entire Braves’ infield will be in Seattle for the Major League Baseball All Star Game in Seattle. First baseman Matt Olsen, second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley and shortstop Orlando Arcia (starter) will represent Atlanta in the Mid-Summer Classic.

The graduate of John McDonogh High School reacts like a proud poppa.

“Those kids have a lot to do with it, I’m just the guiding force. Their work ethic, their attitude and the effort they put in daily, all of that comes into play. You could be the best coach in the world but if your kids can’t apply what you’re trying to give them how good are you?”

Obviously, Washington is very good at his job. This isn’t the first time an entire infield garnered all-star recognition. However, it’s a rare feat.

Unlike football, where we know positions have separate coaches, in baseball we hear about pitching and hitting coaches. Even ardent baseball fans may not beware of an infield coach.

But think about it. In a game driven largely by strategy, the infield is where most of the strategic action takes place.

The man who managed the Texas Rangers to consecutive World Series appearances has always been considered the best infield coach in the majors.

“I make certain their skill-sets remain at a high level by a lot of drills and work. You have to make sure their mental states are where they are supposed to be,” he says. “If you are in control of your mind, you can control everything.”

Mind control, mental toughness and consistent work have been Washington’s hallmarks. It carried him through 10 years in the minor leagues before sticking with the Minnesota Twins in 1981.

“You deal with adversity, and you don’t get frustrated. The answer you are looking for could be right there in front of you, but you can’t see it because you are frustrated. If you believe you can play then whatever problems you may have in your game, we can always work that out. I’m the expert and you are the student.”

He says in many ways, it’s like the offensive line in football, continuity and attitude makes a difference.

“We do have metrics where we set guys up depending on who’s at the plate. You have to make the infielders take ownership of that.”

Washington continued, “They have a card in their pockets telling them where they are supposed to be on every hitter that comes to the plate. You have to want to be where you are supposed to be to support that pitcher on the mound. It’s like anything else, attitude is a big thing and I try to create that collective attitude.”

A middle infielder for most of his eight-year major league career with five teams, Washington will take a break from his job for induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Such an honor never crossed his mind. He started chasing the little white ball simply because he loved the game.

Playing, managing or coaching that affection is as strong as ever.

I do what I do because I love it and other people did the same thing for me. When you have expertise in a field you want to share it. All of those old guys when I started playing baseball shared their wisdom and knowledge with me and that’s the only way we can keep this thing moving.”