4 overlooked Atlanta Braves who will hurt opponents this postseason
As the Atlanta Braves prepare to make their 2023 postseason debut, these are the players to be watching outside of Ronald Acuña Jr.
Want four players from the Atlanta Braves to watch this postseason who aren't named Ronald Acuña Jr.? The four in this article could play big roles for the Braves as they try to get back to the Fall Classic.
1. Orlando Arcia
While Orlando Arcia's second-half numbers may have gone in the wrong direction, the shortstop remained a clutch hitter and an elite defender. When you have to wade through Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and the obvious MVP in Acuña, it is going to be inevitable that mistakes are made further down the lineup or chances given to players that are far less feared.
Arcia remains one of the best stories of the 2023 season as a utlity player who was finally given his chance and took full advantage of it. While Arcia is easy to overlook in this stacked lineup, any Braves fan who watched the 2023 season closely will tell you Arcia can be every bit as dangerous as the rest of Atlanta's sluggers.
Timing is everything and Arcia seems to save his best contact for the biggest moments. Nothing about his stats jump off the page compared to Atlanta's other starters, but Arcia deserves respect and is going to have big moments during this postseason run for the Braves.
While many (this writer included) believed Atlanta made a mistake parting ways with Dansby Swanson, almost one year later nothing could further from the truth for a team that found the perfect shortstop in Arcia.
2. Travis d'Arnaud
Outside of managing the Braves bullpen, the toughest job for Brian Snitker is going to be getting both d'Arnaud and Sean Murphy consistently in the lineup. With Marcell Ozuna putting together a superb second half, the DH spot is locked in for the Braves and the catchers will have to share time, with both bringing strong skill sets and arguments to start over the other.
d'Arnaud had a rough 2023 season, but the catcher has a strong postseason history and, at times, has led the charge for this Braves offense. Sean Murphy may have had the more complete season, but the Braves catcher with the best postseason history is still d'Arnaud.
Both players are going to be given plenty of chances and if you're an Atlanta Braves fan you expect something great to happen anytime d'Arnaud walks to the plate despite how the 2023 season went. Atlanta's catching duo has an argument as the best in the postseason and will give the team an advantage at the position.
Having the ability for a late pinch hit from either catcher sets up what looks to be a solid bench unit for the Braves.
3. Michael Harris II
The fact that Harris makes a list of Braves that could be overlooked heading into the 2023 postseason speaks to this team's offense. If you're ranking offensive threats for Atlanta after getting past the obvious MVP, you have Olson, Riley, Albies and Ozuna are the obvious choices.
There isn't an easy out in this Atlanta lineup, however, and Harris is a young improving player that is built for the postseason. Harris is an elite defender in center who is going to save runs during Atlanta's postseason run while having the ability to contribute at the plate and distract pitchers on the bases.
While he may not be Atlanta's best base thief, Harris has elite speed that is going to be a distraction anytime the young center fielder gets on base. Harris is a complete player and still only 22 with plenty of reason to believe he will continue to improve.
Even if his bat doesn't live up to expectations, there is still plenty of reasons to continue to start one of the best center fielders in the game. It is easy to make the argument Harris is a team's third- or fourth-most important player on a number of other postseason teams, speaking to Atlanta's depth.
4. Bryce Elder
Elder struggled at the end of the season after being one of the surprise contributors for a banged-up rotation for much of the 2023 season. Now due to injury, it is likely that Elder makes the postseason roster and earns at least one start or is part of a bullpen game in the first round. You have Max Fried and Spencer Strider penciled in as this team's first two starters before things get a bit murky.
Charlie Morton will miss at least the first round of the playoffs and there isn't one other healthy pitcher with Elder's level of success Atlanta can turn to. Elder is going to get a chance in round one and I believe the Braves are going to be surprised with what the young pitcher does with it.
Elder is a location pitcher lacking the ability to miss a lot of bats, simply blowing the ball past people. While a level of regression was always expected for Elder, there is reason to believe, with extended time off after the longest season of his short career, Elder will be fresh and surprise a lot of people just as he did to start the 2023 season. Look for Elder to be a consistent innings-eater this postseason, doing just enough to give his offense time to get rolling and continue to do what they have done for the entire 2023 season.
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