The Atlanta Braves 2022 outfield picture looks blurry at the moment, but that could change in due-time.
One of the more-intriguing position groups for the Atlanta Braves entering the 2022 season is the outfield.
A group that used numerous different players throughout the 2021 campaign, the Braves outfield was an important piece of the 2021 World Series team both pre and post-trade deadline, and you could certainly argue that Atlanta wouldn’t have won the Fall Classic without those multiple players.
While the 2021 outfield altogether was impactful throughout the season, the 2022 outfield is currently a mystery as it is unknown just who will be patrolling the outfield grass at Truist Park.
What will the Atlanta Braves 2022 outfield look like?
When looking at the Braves 2022 outfield picture entering the offseason, you could certainly make the argument that there is only one 100% given – Ronald Acuna Jr.
While the timeline for the MVP candidate’s return to the field is not currently set in stone, it seems likely that Acuna will return for the Braves at some point in May. So, with Acuna set as Atlanta’s everyday right fielder, who could possibly join the 23-year-old superstar patrolling Atlanta’s outfield?
While there are a few internal options on the 40-man roster, it is currently unknown of if either Adam Duvall or Guillermo Heredia will return for the 2022 season, as well as the questions surrounding Marcell Ozuna.
In addition to those three, top prospect Cristian Pache will also surely see a bigger role at the major league level in 2022, as well as No. 3 prospect Drew Waters and Travis Demeritte also candidates to join the big league roster at some point.
However, with Duvall and possibly Pache as the only real options to start early-on next season, it makes sense that the Braves re-sign at-least two of the outfielders who were acquired at the 2021 trade deadline in either Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, or Joc Pederson.
Each of these three provided massive impacts during Atlanta’s World Series run, with Soler and Rosario each projected to receive a multi-year deal according to MLBTR.
However, if the Braves opt-to make a bigger splash by acquiring one of the top free agent outfielders, a potential deal for Starling Marte or Chris Taylor could be a possibility as well, with Taylor as the more-likely option.
The Atlanta Braves 2022 outlook for the starting outfield is one of the biggest question marks of the offseason, and it will be key for the Braves to acquire at-least two outfielders in free agency. Will the Braves 2022 outfield look similar to what it was in October, or could Atlanta make a surprise move?