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Who were your favorite Braves growing up? Are you too young to have really seen the peak of the Chipper Jones/Andruw Jones era?
I still got to see a good amount of Chipper and Andruw. But I was a big Jason Heyward guy. I liked Ender Inciarte. The Upton brothers, Michael Bourn, Cameron Maybin. I liked a lot of guys.
I can guarantee you this is the first time Ender Inciarte’s name will be in GQ. Thank you for that.
You’re welcome.
Where did your Money Mike nickname come from? Did you have that before you signed the big contract?
I had it in the minors. I actually gave myself the username on Twitter and Instagram in high school, but I changed the Instagram one. There was a coach who called me Money because I was clutch in certain situations. I’ve been Money Mike ever since. It rolls off the tongue pretty well.
As someone who also chose their Twitter username in high school and has stuck with it, I relate to that. But now you also can’t change it! You’re locked in as Money Mike forever.
It would be dumb for me to change it. Nobody said anything, either. People were pretty cool about it around the league.
Did you have any memorable conversations on the field with anybody last year? I know Joey Votto has a bit of a reputation as a legendary talker.
The thing is, with Votto, I didn’t get on base during that series [in Cincinnati]. I hit a home run so I didn’t get to stop and talk to him. But I wish I did! The coolest one was being able to talk to Freddie Freeman. I never imagined I’d see him out of a Braves uniform. Being able to chat it up with him at first base when we played the Dodgers—and I was the one wearing the Braves uniform—that was a crazy moment.
After you signed the big contract, what’d you buy? You get any cool stuff for yourself?
I didn’t really get anything.
Stop! Nothing?
I already had a car, a BMW X6 M with a matte black wrap. I was already in my apartment. I was just going about my daily life. I didn’t think about spending, really. I paid off my family’s mortgage. That was it. I want to buy a house. Other than that, nothing. The only thing I really buy is more golf balls.
How’s your golf game?
The rate that I buy golf balls kind of answers the question. I’m getting better, though. Pretty much everybody on the team golfs. I’ll give you a top four or five. Kyle Wright is pretty good. Bryce Elder, Jackson Stephens. A.J. Minter hits the fairway every time. Matt Olson is pretty good. Oh, wait, no, I gotta take Olson out of there. Austin Riley shot a 73 the other day. Sorry, Olson.
Do you get worried about golf messing with your baseball swing? Or is that mostly a myth?
No, I play golf right-handed.
Interesting! Is there anybody on the team you want to call out for being trash?
Nobody is really that bad. I think we might have the best golf team in the league. We’ll go head-to-head with any team if they want to argue it.
Have you used your status as Atlanta Braves center fielder to meet any rappers? Do you know Lil Baby?
[laughs] Not yet! I gotta pull that card soon. But I haven’t yet.
This interview has been edited and condensed
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Matthew Roberson
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