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Atlanta Braves’ Fangraphs projections for 2020: the good and the bad

By Seth Carter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13, Ozzie Albies #1 and Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 3-0. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13, Ozzie Albies #1 and Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 3-0. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Catchers Finish in Top Ten in WAR

Last season the Braves catchers finished ninth in WAR. The previous season they finished eighth in WAR. In 2017 they finished second. That’s three consecutive years in the top ten in WAR from the catcher position.

A huge part of the formula for the Braves is defensive value. Last season they combined for the third-highest defensive rating on Fangraphs and finished fifth in 2017.

As much as many of you will refuse to admit this, Tyler Flowers is a key component to the Braves’ catching success.  I’ll give you a minute to pick up the device you just threw across the room and regain your composure.

Now, that your rage has (hopefully) subsided…Tyler Flowers is goo…Don’t throw the device again!

If you’d like to complain about Tyler Flowers then please do so in the comment section of this love letter I wrote to him. For now, let’s take a look at what Fangraphs thinks about the Braves’ catching combo in 2020.

While the addition of Travis d’Arnaud adds a solid bat with home run power to the lineup, Flowers is still projected to earn the most WAR from behind the plate.

Fangraphs Braves Catchers WAR projection: 

  • Travis d’Arnaud (FLD 1.3): 1.4 WAR
  • Tyler Flowers (FLD 8.0): 1.5 WAR

The only other catcher in the division projected to make anywhere near the defensive contributions of Tyler Flowers is the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto. Outside of those two, no other catcher is even in the same ballpark…metaphorically.

There will be times when other catchers within the division are literally in the same ballpark. Perhaps I should have used a different euphemism? Well, what’s done is done. It’s in ink. Can’t change it now. Moving on…

I look for the Braves to have solid hitting (for catchers) and way above average defense once again. They may not find themselves at the top of the list, but the top ten seems like a great spot.

Fangraphs got this one RIGHT!

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