Marlins Park may be Atlanta Braves’ favorite

MIAMI — Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who was raised in Miami, sure likes playing in Marlins Park.

His Atlanta Braves, who were a pathetic 0-9 when they arrived in Miami on Friday, swept the Marlins in three games, wrapping that up with a 6-5, 10-inning win on Sunday.

The Braves are now 28-12 in Marlins Park since it opened in 2012, and all of that has been under the direction of Gonzalez.

It’s no wonder a reporter asked Gonzalez after Sunday’s win if the Braves’ new stadium — SunTrust Park, which is set to open in 2017 — will have a Marlins theme.

Gonzalez didn’t touch that question, which was asked at least somewhat in jest.

But while that question went unanswered, it is right to ask about this Braves team, which is 3-9 and seems destined for a third straight losing season.

The question is: When will the losing end?

Unfortunately for Braves fans, the answer is that this complete overhaul will likely take several more years. There are just a couple of professional bats in the lineup, most notably Freddie Freeman at first base, Nick Markakis in right field and catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is 39 years old and in the last season of his contract.

Hope for the future centers around shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft, left-hander Sean Newcomb, who is their top pitching prospect, and young right-handers such as Touki Toussaint and Lucas Sims.

The Braves have another talented young shortstop in the minors in Ozzy Albies and a sleeper pitcher in Luis Mora, who has a fastball clocked at 102 mph.

Among the young players already in the majors, the Braves are highest on second baseman/left fielder Jace Peterson, who had a three-run double on Sunday; Matt Wisler, who picked up the save; and center fielder Mallex Smith, who got the game-winning hit.

Still, this will be a long road back to respectability for the Braves … especially since they play so few games at Marlins Park.