ATLANTA — Braves supervisor Brian Snitker considers this previous season to be probably the most difficult he has ever skilled. His group beat the percentages by advancing to the postseason, regardless of being weakened by important accidents all through the season.
“We had a very nice 12 months for what we did with the hand we had been dealt,” Snitker mentioned. “However I had a foul day [the day after the season ended]. I anticipated us to go deeper than we did.”
Defining momentWhen Spencer Strider was misplaced for the season after making only one wholesome begin, no one may have envisioned how a lot worse issues may get on the damage entrance. By the point Austin Riley’s season ended with a fractured hand in August, Braves followers had been numb. A season stuffed with horrific health-related developments was outlined on Might 26, when Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his proper ACL whereas trying to get again to second base throughout a recreation in Pittsburgh.
The Braves received the 2021 World Sequence after Acuña tore his proper ACL. However changing his MVP-caliber skills proved far too important throughout a 12 months by which Atlanta noticed six of the ten members (beginning pitcher included) of the Opening Day lineup miss important time due to damage. The lineup used in the course of the season opener skilled six full innings collectively all 12 months.
Sean Murphy missed nearly two months after straining his left indirect within the seventh inning of the primary recreation. Ozzie Albies wanted a bit greater than every week to get better from an amazing toe fracture in April, however then he wanted nearly two months to get better from the fractured wrist suffered on July 21. Michael Harris II’s hamstring pressure led him to spend about two months on the IL.
What we learnedGiven how the season ended, it appears ridiculous to say we realized this group has extra beginning pitching depth than anticipated in the beginning of the season. Chris Sale’s again difficulty mixed with the necessity to clinch a postseason spot throughout a final-day doubleheader, compelled the Braves to carry AJ Smith-Shawver up from Triple-A to start out Recreation 1 of the Wild Card Sequence.
However the revelation that Sale would have been wholesome sufficient to start out within the Nationwide League Division Sequence had the Braves superior, restored the assumption that the rotation ought to nonetheless be robust even when each Max Fried (free agent) and Charlie Morton (may retire) aren’t again subsequent 12 months.
The Braves received massive with the offseason gambles they made on each Sale, who’s the highest NL Cy Younger Award candidate, and Reynaldo López. Spencer Schwellenbach’s instantaneous rise towards frontline starter enhances the thrill about what he’ll do over the subsequent few years with Strider, who ought to return in the course of the early portion of subsequent season. Ian Anderson, Smith-Shawver and Bryce Elder add to the interior depth that may very well be enhanced with an offseason acquisition.
Finest developmentSchwellenbach started the season on the Excessive-A degree and ended it as a key asset inside a rotation that included a number of All-Stars. The 24-year-old was extremely spectacular as he commanded his six-pitch combine. Seeing a homegrown pitching product present frontline capabilities is the last word improvement for any group.
Space for improvementThe Braves spent roughly $17 million to realize the possibility to regulate Jarred Kelenic for 5 seasons. Kelenic sat as Ramón Laureano served as the first left fielder in the course of the common season’s last weeks. A wholesome Acuña would be the main proper fielder once more sooner or later early subsequent 12 months and Harris might be again in middle subject.
As for Jorge Soler, he’s a defensive legal responsibility who can be finest utilized as a delegated hitter for a group that doesn’t have already got Marcell Ozuna in that position. With questions surrounding Soler and Kelenic, there’s an opportunity Laureano may start subsequent season as the first left fielder.
On the riseHurston Waldrep, the Braves’ No. 3 prospect, wasn’t prepared for the Majors this 12 months, however now greater than a 12 months faraway from collegiate baseball, the younger hurler may additional strengthen Atlanta’s rotation depth subsequent 12 months. He ended the season with confidence as he posted a 1.06 ERA over his last three begins for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Group MVPOzuna was the offensive MVP, however this honor goes to Sale, who with yet another begin may have develop into the primary pitcher to win MLB’s Triple Crown in a full season since Johan Santana in 2006. As an alternative he settled for the NL’s Triple Crown, main the Senior Circuit in wins (18), ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225).
