This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it commonly in your inbox.
Whether or not your workforce gained the World Collection or skilled a disappointing marketing campaign the earlier season, you look ahead to this time of yr. The tip of winter brings hope for the summer season forward.
With the Braves set to welcome pitchers and catchers to Spring Coaching subsequent week, listed here are solutions to some questions you may need concerning the 2024 camp:
When is the primary exercise for pitchers and catchers?
Braves pitchers and catchers will report back to camp by Wednesday after which stage their first official exercise the next day. “Pitchers and catchers report” will all the time be magical phrases for baseball followers. However the fact is, pitchers, catchers and place gamers appear to reach earlier and earlier yearly. Might need one thing to do with these Spring Coaching amenities now having the identical facilities of a five-star resort.
What’s the date of the primary full-squad exercise?
Early arriving place gamers will take batting follow and take part in different casual exercises. However among the organized offensive and defensive drills is not going to happen earlier than the Braves maintain their first full-squad exercise on Feb. 20.
The place is the Braves’ facility?
North Port, Fla., is a fast-growing metropolis crammed with lovely new neighborhoods like West Villages, which surrounds CoolToday Park. The power is roughly 40 minutes south of Sarasota and an hour north of Fort Myers.
Can followers attend exercises?
Followers may have entry to the again fields starting Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. ET. Entry shall be granted by means of Gate 3 or the Inexperienced Gate earlier than video games start. The Inexperienced Gate would be the solely entry level for the again fields on the times the Braves are enjoying a Grapefruit League sport on the principle subject.
Jarred Kelenic and Chris Sale would be the newcomers who draw essentially the most consideration. Kelenic turned the workforce’s left fielder when he was acquired from the Mariners in December. He’s a former high prospect who may benefit from a change of surroundings. Sale’s standing as one of many sport’s high beginning pitchers was erased as he battled a number of illnesses over the previous few years. However the Braves consider the 34-year-old left-hander can nonetheless be a difference-maker of their rotation.
Reynaldo López and Aaron Bummer are relievers who may bolster what has the makings to be a powerful bullpen.
Who’re among the high prospects invited to Main League camp?
Beginning pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver, ranked by MLB Pipeline because the group’s high prospect, rose to the Majors final yr and confirmed how precious his sturdy proper arm could possibly be for a few years to return. This yr’s prospect fascination will heart on No. 2 prospect Hurston Waldrep, the Braves’ 2023 first-round Draft choose. The appropriate-hander is lower than a full calendar yr faraway from serving to the College of Florida attain the School World Collection finals. However there’s an opportunity he, too, may be part of Atlanta’s rotation in some unspecified time in the future this yr.
When is the Braves’ first Grapefruit League sport?
The Braves will open the Grapefruit League schedule at 1:05 p.m. on Feb. 24, with what is actually a cross-town matchup towards the Rays in Port Charlotte, which is adjoining to Englewood, the quiet seaside city the place among the Braves have stayed throughout Spring Coaching.
What are a number of different notable spring video games?
The Crimson Sox will go to CoolToday Park on Feb. 25 and March 17. Different guests embrace the Orioles (Feb. 26, March 1, March 9), the Phillies (March 3) and the Yankees (March 21)
What’s the Spring Breakout and when is the Braves’ sport?
To provide followers a greater really feel for among the sport’s future stars, video games pitting high prospects from opposing groups shall be performed throughout March’s third weekend. Smith-Shawver and Waldrep is perhaps among the many gamers the Braves ship to Fort Myers to play Boston’s high prospects on March 16.
Will the Braves’ video games be televised?
A full listing of televised video games shall be introduced at a later date. Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski are at present scheduled to name every of the Braves’ closing 4 house video games: vs. Blue Jays (March 20), vs. Yankees (March 21) vs. Rays (March 23), vs. Twins (March 25).
When is the membership’s final sport in Florida?
The Braves will conclude their Grapefruit League schedule with a March 26 sport towards the Twins in Fort Myers.
What are the small print for Opening Day?
The Braves will open the 2024 common season the place their previous two seasons ended. They face the Phillies at 3:05 p.m. ET on March 28 at Residents Financial institution Park.
