Want to know one of the reasons behind the recent success of the Atlanta Braves? The team has been blessed by health with some of the superstars, even while others like Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. have been sidelined.
Atlanta Braves superstars have some of the most durable among all MLB players
While the Braves have had to deal with injuries to Acuña (part of the reason the Atlanta outfield was rebuilt before winning the 2021 World Series) and Albies (who missed a significant part of the 2022 season, allowing Vaughn Grissom to show his skills in the infield in his rookie season but is on track to be healthy for spring training), there have been other cornerstones of the franchise who have been extremely durable.
Durable Dansby 😳 pic.twitter.com/xBkpm7LV1V
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 17, 2022
Granted, not all of those players were in Atlanta at the same time, but Swanson (playing in a National League-high 160 regular-season games) and Freeman (playing in 159) were pivotal parts of a 2021 championship run. Freeman’s departure paved the way for Olson to take over at first base, and his first season in Atlanta saw him in the lineup in all 162 games.
Much like Freeman, there is a chance that Swanson may not be with the Braves in 2023. If that’s the case, the franchise will not only need to find someone who can replace his offensive value to the lineup, but also be an everyday part of it as well. Will that be Grissom, who saw action in 41 games last season after making his MLB debut on August 10?
It is a testament to the depth of the Braves that the team has endured injuries to key players such as Acuña Jr. and Albies and still found success, thanks in part to having Swanson and a rotation at first base between Freeman and Olson that have proven to be cornerstones of the lineup, day in and day out.