Good day baseball fans!!! Today is the first day that the entire squad of the Atlanta Braves are suppose to report to camp…meaning that practices begin now. Pitchers and catchers reported on February 16, and more than a handful of position players reported last week as well. This Braves team will look different than last year’s team, at this time. As we know, gone from last year’s team are SS Dansby Swanson, C William Contreras, and CF Adam Duvall. Signed to the team in a trade catcher Sean Murphy to replace Contreras. Swanson is now with the Cubs and Contreras with the Brewers. Fan favorite, outfielder Adam Duvall, who started last year in centerfield, is now playing with the Boston Red Sox. Replacing him is rookie centerfield and Atlanta native Michael Harris II, will start in centerfield. Harris came in to take over center last year after Duvall suffered a season ending injury. Harris went on to win rookie of the year honors.
There has been some debate as to who will be starting leftfielder come opening day. Leftfielders Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario will both be on the roster unless a big bat leftfielder shows up in free agency, then Ozuna would be gone. Ozuna was third in the league in homers (18) in the shortened 60-game 2020 season, but hasn’t done much since on the field. He broke his hand sliding into third at Boston in the 2021 season and wasn’t even a part of the World Series that year. If Ozuna isn’t cut before season’s start, Rosario will be your left fielder and Ozuna will play DH.
Starting Ace pitcher Max Fried lost to the Atlanta Braves in his arbitration year. So instead of earning $15 million this year he will earn $13.5 million. Fried still enjoys playing for the Braves and still hopes for a long-term deal.
Pitcher Mike Soroka, who was the ace of the team from 2018-2020 until he tore his Achilles tendon in the 2020 season, then tore it again early in the 2021 season, but never pitched in 2021. Over the weekend it was reported that he aggravated his hamstring and will now just rest. Not sure that Soroka will be in the rotation on opening day, but if he is it would be a boost to the pitching. But injuries just plague him.
With all that being said, this team is relatively health this spring. It’s a good sign seeing the guys out on the practice field. Here is my starting lineup come opening day with 2022 batting average.
- Ronald Acuna, .266, (R), RF
- Ozzie Albies, .247 injured didn’t finish season, (L), 2B
- Matt Olson, .240, (L), 1B
- Austin Riley, .273, (R), 3B
- Travis d’Arnaud, .268, (R), C
- Marcell Ozuna, .226, (R) DH
- Eddie Rosario, .212, (L), LF
- Vaughn Grissom, .291, Rookie, (R), SS
- Michael Harris II, .297, Rookie of the Year, (L), CF
- Max Fried, (Throws Left), SP
My starting rotation will be as follows with the first being the Braves ace which includes 2022 ERA:
- Max Fried, 2.38 ERA, (Throws Left), SP
- Spencer Strider, 2.67 ERA, (Throws Right), SP
- Kyle Wright, 3.19 ERA, (Throws Right), SP
- Charlie Morton, 4.34 ERA, (Throws Right), SP
- Bryce Elder, 3.17 ERA, (Throws Right), SP
Below is a little batting practice to open today’s practice. The sweet sound of the bat.
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