Being in the Opening Day starting lineup is one of the biggest honors in baseball for player and usually indicates that the position they're playing on day one is theirs to lose. Over the last 10 seasons, this has mostly been the case for the Atlanta Braves.
However, there have been six Braves over the last 10 years who got the nod on Opening Day, only to be completely forgotten a short time later.
From a player who was acquired in one of the worst trades in Braves recent history, to a last second roster change when both catchers fell ill, these are the six Braves Opening Day starters you don't remember.
Forgotten Braves who were in the Opening Day starting lineup
2015: Eric Young Jr., Alberto Callaspo
In the very first year of the rebuild, the Braves still had a few notable players in Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons, and Nick Markakis. The club had also reunited with former second baseman from the "Baby Braves" era, Kelly Johnson (although he was playing left field in 2015).
Most fans would recognize every other name in the lineup, however Eric Young Jr. and Alberto Callaspo might be somewhat unfamiliar.
Young Jr., the son of former Braves first base coach Eric Young Sr. is likely more remembered for breaking Tim Hudson's ankle when he was still a member of the Mets than for his 35 game stint with the Braves, where he slashed .169/.229/.273 (39 OPS+).
Alberto Callaspo was arguably worse than Young in his 37-game stint, slashing .206/.293/.252 (54 OPS+) while not providing the speed or defense Young did. His tenure with the Braves ended when the club shipped him off to the Dodgers in a six-player deal that included Juan Uribe.
2016: Hector Olivera
One of the worst trades in Braves history centered around Hector Olivera, who mere months after being shipped to the Braves to be their third baseman of the future, was quickly evaluated as not being capable of playing third base.
He started in left field in his only Opening Day start, and was never seen from again just a week later after being arrested for domestic violence.
2020 Matt Adams, Alex Jackson
After Hector Olivera, the Braves went several seasons without unusual Opening Day starters. 2017 featured veterans who stuck with the team for more or less the entire season, while 2018 opened with a few stopgaps who eventually became bench pieces. Meanwhile 2019 was a powerful lineup where the lone single-season Brave was Josh Donaldson.
In a weird season like 2020, however, it was impossible to go without a weird lineup to start Opening Day. Tyler Flowers and Travis d'Arnaud were set to share the catching duties that season, but both were sick to start the year. Instead, Alex Jackson got the nod. He only played five games in 2020, getting seven plate appearances.
Matt Adams served as the Braves first Opening Day designated hitter, but struggled with the club in his second go-around with the team, slashing just .184/.216/.347 in 16 games before getting cut. He did at least have a fun walk-off homer in the Braves exhibition game against the Marlins that season.
2022: Alex Dickerson
Hopefully, this will be the last strange Opening Day Braves starter for a while. In 2022, the Braves opted to start Alex Dickerson at DH, with Marcell Ozuna playing left field. The club was still down Ronald Acuña Jr. and didn't have to commit to a full-time player for their outfield and DH.
Still, Dickerson struggled. In his one month with the team, he slashed .121/.194/.212 (13 OPS+) and was cut when the Braves activated Acuña from the IL.