"This is what I have always dreamed of doing" - Eli White relives clutch 9th-inning catch for Braves

For Eli White, cracking full-time status on an MLB roster has been a challenge ever since he made his Big League debut in 2020. However, on Tuesday, the outfielder came one step closer.

With the Atlanta Braves' game against the San Francisco Giants tied 3-3 in the ninth inning, San Francisco catcher Patrick Bailey took Atlanta pitcher Dylan Lee deep to center field. For a moment, it appeared as though Bailey's clobbering to center would leave the park for a walk-off win. That was until White hunted it down and made a terrific catch.

"NO. FLY. ZONE. CLUTCH play by Eli White." - Bally Sports: Braves

White timed the ball perfectly, completing an unlikely catch to retire the first batter of the inning. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Travis d'Arnaud would hit an RBI groundout, leading to the Braves beating the San Francisco Giants 4-3.

White was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 5 after hitting .294/.402/.462 with 7 home runs and 28 RBIs in 53 games in the minor leagues. Tuesday's game was just the fifth appearance in center field for him this season.

After the game, White reflected on the play, which led to the Atlanta Braves clinching their 63rd win of the year. In a post-game interview with Bally Sports, White claimed that it was "awesome" to make the catch and that helping the Braves win “is what I have always dreamed of doing".

"“It’s awesome. This is what I have always dreamed of doing, helping the @Braves win ballgames." Eli White relives his clutch catch in the ninth inning" - Bally Sports: Braves

A native of South Carolina, White grew up rooting for the Braves during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although he was drafted by the Pirates, White made his MLB debut for the Texas Rangers in 2020 and remained with the organization until his December 2022 trade to Atlanta.

Eli White delivers crucial win for Braves

Despite being 3-7 in their last 10, the Braves have now closed their gap behind the Philadelphia Phillies to just six games in the NL East. As Atlanta manager Brian Snitker told ABC after Tuesday's win:

“If we’re going to make a push and do anything, that’s kind of the way it starts happening, we did a lot of really good things tonight. Good team win.”

While he did not reference White directly, any club that can rely on its teritory talent to deliver wins stands in a favorable position.