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Top Braves News

  • Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: In mix for starts

    Smith-Shawver will get a chance in training camp to win a rotation spot, and figures to get opportunities early in the season even if he begins the year back at Triple-A Gwinnett, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

    With Spencer Strider (elbow) set to begin the season on the IL, Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson are penciled into the final two spots in the rotation headed into the spring. Smith-Shawver will get a look too however, and the 22-year-old right-hander has by far the best raw stuff of that trio if he can learn to harness it more consistently. He made only one regular-season appearance for Atlanta in 2024, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings against the Cubs on May 23 with a 4:2 K:BB, but he strained his oblique during that start, missed six weeks and was never able to regain his form afterward. While his 4.86 ERA in 87 innings at Gwinnett last year wasn't very impressive, it came with a 104:40 K:BB. If Smith-Shawver puts together an impressive camp, he could force his way into the back of Atlanta's Opening Day rotation.

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  • Braves' Chadwick Tromp: Favorite for backup job

    Tromp is the leading candidate to back up Sean Murphy behind the plate for Atlanta to begin the season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

    The 29-year-old has never gotten more than 64 big-league plate appearances in a season and has just a .232/.237/.397 slash line for his career, but Atlanta is comfortable with his defense and game-calling. Tromp's main competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster will likely come from top prospect Drake Baldwin, although veteran backstops Curt Casali and Sandy Leon will also be in camp for Atlanta.

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  • Braves' Daysbel Hernandez: Might have key setup role

    Hernandez could take over the high-leverage role left open by the absence of Joe Jimenez (knee) in the Atlanta bullpen, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

    Hernandez posted a 2.50 ERA and dazzling 26:10 K:BB over 18 innings in the majors last season, collecting three wins and a hold in 16 appearances. Jimenez, who recorded a career-high 27 holds in 2024 while serving as one of the top set-up men for closer Raisel Iglesias, is expected to miss most or all of the season while recovering from October knee surgery. Pierce Johnson will handle some of those late-inning assignments, but Hernandez could be an under-the-radar holds source in 2025.

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  • Braves' Chad Kuhl: Lands in Atlanta

    Kuhl signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Wednesday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.

    Kuhl finished 2024 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 53.1 innings over 31 appearances with the White Sox, and his numbers in Triple-A weren't much better (4.34 ERA, 1.50 WHIP). He's likely to spend less time in the majors this season now that he's on an Atlanta pitching staff that boasts far more talent than Chicago's, though he could still make a few appearances as a long reliever throughout the season.

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  • Braves' Ian Anderson: Could win rotation spot

    Anderson is out of minor-league options, making him a favorite to begin the season as part of the Atlanta rotation, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

    While team president Alex Anthopoulos could still bring in another arm before spring training begins or even during camp, as the Atlanta roster stands, Anderson appears to be in line to open the year as the No. 4 or No. 5 starter behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, filling out the back of the rotation along with Grant Holmes. Spencer Strider is expected to miss the first month or so of the campaign as he completes his recovery from elbow surgery, but once he returns, Anderson could be the pitcher bumped to a lesser role. The 26-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022, and the one-time top prospect managed a 3.96 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 53:27 K:BB over 52.1 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett last season.

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  • Braves' Grant Holmes: Likely to open season in rotation

    Holmes is a favorite to begin the season as part of the Atlanta rotation, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

    While team president Alex Anthopoulos could still bring in another arm before spring training begins or even during camp, as the Atlanta roster stands, Holmes seems likely to open the year as the No. 4 or No. 5 starter behind Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, filling out the back of the rotation along with Ian Anderson as both right-handers are out of minor-league options. Spencer Strider is expected to miss the first month or so of the campaign as he completes his recovery from elbow surgery, but once he returns, Holmes could be the pitcher bumped to a lesser role. Over 68.1 big-league innings in 2024, Holmes posted a surprisingly effective 3.56 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a 70:15 K:BB.

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  • Braves' Kolton Ingram: Nabs minor-league deal

    Atlanta signed Ingram to a minor-league contract Nov. 19.

    After reaching the big leagues for the first time in 2023 as a member of the Angels, Ingram spent the entire 2024 campaign in the minors with four different organizations. Between stops at the Triple-A and Double-A level last season, Ingram accrued 3.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 52:36 K:BB in 52.2 innings. He'll serve as relief depth in the upper levels of Atlanta's minor-league system in 2025.

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  • Braves' Drake Baldwin: Nets invite to spring training

    Atlanta has extended Baldwin an invitation to big-league camp during spring training.

    Baldwin slashed .276/.370/.423 with 18 home runs between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett in 2024 and is viewed by most as the club's top prospect. While Sean Murphy should have a clear placement at the top of the catcher depth chart in Atlanta heading into the 2025 season, the absence of Travis d'Arnaud gives Baldwin a clearer path to debut sooner rather than later.

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  • Braves' Chandler Seagle: Gets MiLB deal from Atlanta

    Atlanta signed Seagle to a minor-league contract Jan. 16.

    Seagle drew one plate appearance with the Padres in 2023 before spending all of 2024 at their Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, where he slashed an ugly .180/.219/.280 in 38 games. He's merely organizational catching depth.

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  • Braves' Jarred Kelenic: Competing for right field reps

    Kelenic is slated to compete for playing time in right field until Ronald Acuna (knee) returns, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

    Newly signed Jurickson Profar is slated for everyday playing time in left field, which leaves Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz in a likely platoon in right field for the first month or so of the season while Acuna is out. Once Acuna returns, Kelenic could be pegged for a fourth outfielder role. The former top prospect slashed .231/.286/.393 with 15 home runs over 131 games during the regular season in his first year with Atlanta, sagging to a .595 OPS in the second half.

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  • Braves' Ronald Acuna: Likely to miss first month

    Acuna (knee) is expected to miss the first month or so of the season, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

    Everything appears to have gone swimmingly with Acuna's rehab from June 2024 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Atlanta is proceeding a bit more cautiously with Acuna than it did after his right ACL tear in 2021, and his timeline could conceivably be moved forward or backward based on how he looks and feels in spring training. Assuming Acuna does begin the season on the injured list, Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz are expected to split playing time in right field.

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  • Braves' Spencer Strider: Making progress

    Strider (elbow) has completed four bullpen sessions and is on track to have a mostly normal spring training, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.

    Strider's progress is notable and a strong sign of his potential to contribute significant innings in 2025. However, general manager Alex Anthopoulos reiterated that the current plan is that Strider will not open the season on the active roster. More details about his timeline should emerge as spring training begins and progresses.

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  • Braves' Connor Gillispie: Pushed off 40-man

    Atlanta designated Gillispie for assignment Thursday, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.

    Gillispie signed a one-year deal with Atlanta earlier this winter with hopes of earning a spot in the team's starting rotation or in the bullpen as a long reliever. Instead, he'll be put on waivers to make room for Jurickson Profar, who agreed to a three-year deal with Atlanta on Thursday. The 27-year-old Gillispie fared well in a small sample size with the Guardians last season, allowing just two earned runs over eight innings, and he finished with a 4.05 ERA in Triple-A over 113.1 frames.

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Team Statistical Rankings

Avg R HR ERA
Team .243
(15th)
704
(15th)
213
(4th)
3.49
(1st)

Injuries

Player Injury
R. Acuna RF Ronald Acuna RF Knee
S. Strider SP Spencer Strider SP Elbow
J. Jimenez RP Joe Jimenez RP Knee
A. Perdomo RP Angel Perdomo RP Elbow

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