Braves Part Ways with Beloved Reporter

Courtesy of barrettsportsmedia.com: Kelsey Wingert

I don't normally write about reporters or the media. But this young reporter I couldn't resist writing a piece. Two days ago the Athletic broke the story that the Braves were parting ways with beloved reporter Kelsey Wingert. Surprising to her, the decision, according to The Athletic, was made back in December, but just handed down to her just recently. Wingert, actually works for Fox Sports for the South and Southeast region, but the Braves get the final decision on who is their broadcast team for the year. Not sure whose decision it was, but it came as a shock to Braves Nation.

In a short four year period, this lady touched so many lives. The play-by-play announcing brings you the game on the field, Wingert brought Braves Nation closer to the team on a personal level. She was entertaining pregame, during the game, and postgame. I never met her but I do wish one day my three young daughters have the ability to meet her and take a picture with her. What I saw on TV and through social media, she went out of her way to make the fans feel special when they were at the ballpark, fans for the Braves and even other teams fans.

My favorite memory was in 2017 when Wingert was interviewing 2B Brandon Phillips after Phillips had the game winning hit on Father's Day. Both received a gatorade bath afterward.

Courtesy 11Alive in Atlanta: 2B Brandon Phillips and Kelsey Wingert

What shocked me about this parting ways is that it even shocked the local sports media here in Atlanta. Wingert is very active on social media with the Braves and interacting with the fans, but the last two days she was silent, for good reason. But today she has opened up a little and posted on her social media outlets, thanking the Braves team, fans, and her co-workers for all the love and support. Over the last four years she has fallen in love with this city, and this LSU Tiger had made Atlanta home.

Faith is very important to me and from what I have read and seen faith is very important to her as well. God has a plan and reason for everything, and I believe God has a bigger and better plan for this young reporter. I am going to close this story with this. Reading her social media today she says this, "This isn't goodbye, I will see you soon. Atlanta, Chop on forever."My final thought is this. I would love to see Wingert take another sports media job here in Atlanta. That would make a lot of fans in Atlanta very, very, happy.

Follow me on Twitter @makirkley for up-to-date tweets, and my views on what's going on in the world of sports.