Spring training games are still about a week away from beginning for the Atlanta Braves, but we've already seen some early Opening Day roster projections. It's a tough gig predicting who will make the initial 26-man roster for Atlanta, and it's even tougher predicting which players will remain on the roster for the entire season.
Fans know the Braves utilize the Gwinnett taxi squad plenty over the course of the 162 game season, so many fringe roster players will be shuffled back and forth between Atlanta and Gwinnett. However, in this prediction we will be guessing which players will start the year in Atlanta, but fail to remain on the MLB roster due to performance only. If you want to be technical both Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider didn't make it through the 2024 season on the big league roster, but the last thing we want to do is project potential injuries. In fact, after the nightmare 2024 season we're pretty much out of energy for anything injury related.
So instead let's dive into those fringe big league roster players that could have a short stint in Atlanta during the 2025 season.
4 Opening Day roster Braves players who won't stay on the big league roster
Bryan De La Cruz
The first choice feels like the most obvious. Essentially one of the Opening Day outfielders is keeping the seat warm for Ronald Acuna Jr. once he comes back in 2025. We got reports the other day that Acuna is doing great in his rehab process so we don't expect the Kelenic/DLC platoon to last very long.
De La Cruz was picked up this offseason on a non-guaranteed deal so Atlanta obviously has less tied to him than what they invested last offseason with Kelenic. It's true De La Cruz could outplay Kelenic while Ronald is out, and force the Braves to keep him on the big league roster. However, it's hard to imagine a world were the Braves feel they need to move mountains to keep Bryan De La Cruz on the 26-man roster.
Ian Anderson
It's a make or break year for former number three overall pick Ian Anderson. He worked his way back from Tommy John to pitch most of 2024 in Gwinnett, but the results didn't leave many around the Braves hopeful he can once again find what made him so stellar when he debuted.
Because Anderson is out of options (and the Braves currently have two question marks within the rotation) it's likely he'll get his chance to prove he can pitch at the Major League level again early on. Unfortunately, last year's results doesn't give us a ton of confidence Anderson can prove he's worthy of staying on a contending teams' pitching staff.
Great to see Ian Anderson on the mound. It's an important spring for the righty after two seasons on the road back from Tommy John. He'll look to crack the #Braves rotation coming out of camp as he's out of options. pic.twitter.com/3Ns3xaDVPi
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) February 15, 2025
Anderson Pilar
As constructed, the Braves bullpen is the largest area of the team where players can really earn a job in spring training. Pilar was the Braves first round pick in this offseasons' Rule 5 Draft, so he'll have to begin the season with Atlanta or be offered back to the Marlins.
He's a true wild card this season, and could very well pitch inspiring baseball in 2025. Atlanta would love that outcome, but even they know it's not one they can bank on. Instead it's likely Pilar gets a one month tryout in low-leverage spots and then showcases why the talent-deprived Miami Marlins decided to leave him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft.
Luke Williams
Finally we arrive at one of the final bench options Atlanta can roll with in 2025. Williams was a mainstay for much of the season in 2024 thanks to his versatility. He enters this spring with the upper-hand of not having any options left, thus making it more likely he makes the Braves flight to San Diego for Opening Day.
From there it's hard to see Atlanta not signing/claiming/trading for a veteran who can provide more value in this utility-man bench role. If they find that player at any point during the 2025 season, Williams will likely become a Gwinnett Stripers regular.