MLB Spring Training: Atlanta Braves Full Preview

Key Offseason Additions: Erick Aybar, Ender Inciarte, Jim Johnson, Bud Norris

Key Offseason Subtractions: Shelby Miller, Andrelton Simmons, Cameron Maybin

The Rotation:

There is one known in the rotation as the Atlanta Braves approach spring training, and that is that Julio Teheran will be the Opening Day starter. However, if the right deal comes along I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s shipped off before the season starts.

Outside of Teheran, it’s a toss-up as to who will fill out the 2016 rotation. Most likely Matt Wisler will fill in behind him along with Bud Norris and Williams Perez to start the season, but there are going to be several guys who get a chance to crack the rotation during the year.

Other guys who could fit into the Braves rotation this year include Manny Banuelos, Kyle Kendrick, Mike Foltynewicz, Tyrell Jenkins, Aaron Blair and Ryan Weber.

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The good news for Braves fans is that there is a lot of upside with this group. The bad news is that we probably won’t see that upside in 2016.

Teheran struggled a bit in 2015 so Braves fans are hoping he bounces back this year. Wisler looked much better towards the end of last year and should be much improved. Norris, Perez and Kendrick are just fill-in guys until the young guns like Banuelos, Jenkins and Blair are ready.

This won’t be a pretty year for the Braves pitching staff, but if you’re a fan of watching young talent develop then this will be an exciting season.

The Lineup:

The Braves offense was hard to watch in the second half of 2015. For a while it looked like the “get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in” offense was going to work, but players failed to get bunts down and move runners over the second half of the season, and when you’re not hitting home runs and your best bat in the lineup is injured in Freddie Freeman that makes it difficult to score runs.

All signs point toward Freeman being healthy to start the season so look for him to get back on track in the middle of the Braves lineup. Either Inciarte or Aybar should be a nice bat at the top of the lineup that the Braves desperately need.

Nick Markakis could also hit at the top of the lineup, or protect Freeman in the four spot. The rest of the lineup is a bit up in the air. Jace Peterson will have a chance to re-establish his potential in spring training and win back the second base job. If he can’t, then that spot will become a rotating door with Daniel Castro, Emilio Bonifacio and Gordon Beckham.

Also, after the huge trade last spring that brought in Hector Olivera, many are hoping he can come in and play left field, while batting in the middle of the lineup. It will be an interesting spring training for Olivera as well. If he can’t fill the void in left the Braves will have to rely on Michael Bourn or Nick Swisher.

The third base job is also up for grabs between Adonis Garcia, Kelly Johnson and Beckham. The Braves brought A.J. Pierzynski back to be the primary catcher, and they also brought in Tyler Flowers to be his backup.

The only hitting prospect that we might see for the Braves in 2016 is outfielder Mallex Smith. If he gets off to a good start in Triple-A he could take over the center field spot allowing Inciarte to move to left and Olivera back to the infield at third.

Projected Opening Day Lineup:

CF Ender Inciarte
SS Erick Aybar
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Nick Markakis
LF Hector Olivera
C A.J. Pierzynski
3B Adonis Garcia
2B Jace Peterson
Pitcher’s Spot

The Bullpen:

A lot of the issues in the second half of 2015 can be blamed on the bullpen. Because the Braves deployed so many young starters that weren’t going deep into games the bullpen go overworked in the first half, leaving them with nothing in the tank down the stretch. Plus, Jim Johnson was traded at the deadline and Jason Grilli suffered a season-ending injury.

Johnson and Grilli will both be back with the Braves in 2016 along with a host of young arms. Arodys Vizcaino took over the closer role when Grilli went down and did an outstanding job in the few save opportunities he had.

Foltynewicz seems destined for the bullpen at some point if he can’t get it figured out as a starter. Ian Krol was another offseason addition that could earn a spot in the bullpen. The Braves also hope to get Shae Simmons back by May as he’s a valuable piece out of the pen.

Other guys competing for a spot in the bullpen include Matt Marksberry, Andrew McKirahan, Evan Rutckyj and Daniel Winkler. Plus, some of the veteran guys trying for a spot in the rotation could move to the bullpen if they don’t win a starting job.

This a good mix of veterans and young arms in what should be a much improved bullpen for the Braves in 2016. We’ll just see if they all stay together throughout the season, or if some are shipped at the deadline again.

Competitions:

The only thing for certain right now is catcher, first base, shortstop, center field, right field and one starting pitching spot. Everything else is open.

As we already mentioned, Peterson will be battling Beckham and Daniel Castro for playing time at second base. Garcia, Johnson and Beckham will battle it out for the third base job, and Bonifacio can play anywhere on the infield but first.

In left field Olivera will get every chance to win the job, but he’ll be transitioning to a new position as he has primarily played third base. If the Braves can’t shed the contract(s) of Michael Bourn or Nick Swisher before spring training then they’ll also be competing for the left field job.

In the rotation Teheran is the only one guaranteed a spot. Wisler, Perez, Norris, Kendrick, Banuelos, Foltynewicz, John Gant, Jenkins, Blair, Jhoulys Chacin and Ryan Weber will all by vying for a spot in the Braves rotation in spring training.

Other players of note to watch during spring training are Dansby Swanson, Sean Newcomb, Ozzie Albies, Braxton Davidson, Rio Ruiz and Lucas Sims. It’s not likely any of them break camp with the big league club, but they are all top prospects in the Braves system and the future of this team.

Next: Astros Spring Training Preview

Braves spring training is set to begin on February 19 when pitchers and catchers are expected to report to Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The rest of the team will join them on February 24, and their first spring training game is set for March 1 against the Baltimore Orioles.

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