The 2025 campaign was a difficult one for the Atlanta Braves, but that doesn't mean that the team is devoid of talent. With superstars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Chris Sale, Matt Olson, and many others, the team has had more than its fair share of All-Stars in recent memory, and at least some in the know believe that the club will be aggressive this winter in adding more.
Beyond the existing stars and the possible imports, though, are a few key young rising stars who will enter 2026 with a decent shot at becoming first-time All-Stars. If they do, it will mean that everything is firing on all cylinders in Atlanta, while setting up a bright future as well. Three players in particular stand out as likely candidates to earn their first Midsummer Classic nods in 2026.
These 3 Braves' youngsters could earn their first All-Star nods in 2026
Catcher Drake Baldwin
This is perhaps the easiest selection of them all. Not only did Drake Baldwin win the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year award, he did so by having a historic rookie season. Catchers who post OPSs over .800 while threatening 20-plus homers don't grow on trees, and considering that's what Baldwin did from his opener, it's reasonable to assume that his second act is just as good if not better.
Of course, development isn't always linear, so there's a chance that he could struggle as pitchers adjust to him, but the bigger threat is opportunity. Only two catchers in each league will get the nod, and the Dodgers' backstop Will Smith has a stranglehold on one of those spots. Still, with Baldwin's talent, he's a very solid bet to participate in the mid-July showcase.
Starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach
Spencer Schwellenbach might've been on his way to an All-Star nod in 2025 if not for the fractured elbow he suffered on June 28 that ended his season. From opening day through the date of his injury, no NL starter had logged more innings than his 110.2. In terms of ERA, he was 11th among NL starters, his 2.4 fWAR was eighth, and his 0.97 WHIP was third.
Fortunately, Schwellenbach is close to being fully recovered from his injury and will be ready for action with no limitations come spring training. At just 25-years-old, he's only scratching the surface of his potential, making him a solid bet to get the All-Star nod as long as he stays healthy.
Center Fielder Michael Harris II
Of this trio, Michael Harris II is the biggest wild card when it comes to potential first-time All-Stars. The 2022 NL Rookie of the Year has all the talent in the world, but since breaking into the bigs, his performance has gone in the wrong direction.
His 2025 campaign was especially frustrating, with him looking lost at the dish for most of the season. His summer surge, which saw him slash .307/.323/.547, while clubbing 11 homers, was encouraging and looked pretty sustainable, but he sadly turned back into a pumpkin with a .237/.247/.387 performance in September.
The question will be whether Harris II can control the strike zone enough to maximize his talents. It might feel easy to write him off after four big league seasons, but it's important to remember that he doesn't turn 25 until March 7. With so much youth and baseline talent, if and when it all clicks for him, the All-Star selections will come in bunches. We could see 2026 be the year that kickstarts a run for him, or we could see him prove that he's yet another in the long line of talented ball players who struggle to translate their tools into actual production.