Assuming Ronald Acuña Jr.'s shin is a minor issue, the Atlanta Braves are approaching full strength ahead of their playoff run. Sure, they have some long-term injuries that remain problematic, but the Braves are welcoming back Robert Suarez to help anchor their bullpen, so most of the usual suspects are now officially back in the fold.
For many players on the Braves' roster, this won’t be their first rodeo in the postseason. Many are veterans of multiple playoff runs, including the Braves' 2021 World Series title run. However, for a few select Atlanta players, 2026 will be their first taste of postseason baseball.
Here are the Braves players who are about to play in the postseason for the very first time
To be eligible for this list, the only qualification is that a player can’t have appeared previously in a playoff game. That's it. In most cases, the players named will be young guys who hadn't been called up to the big leagues when the Braves were last in the playoffs in 2024. However, a few guys who have been around for a while will now get their first chance to shine in the postseason. There is still a chance that others who could qualify will eventually make the postseason roster, but these are names that feel pretty safe to include for now.
Drake Baldwin
We kind of take it for granted that Drake Baldwin is only in his second year as a professional baseball player, given how important he is to the Braves' offense. However, since the Braves crashed and burned last season and missed the playoffs, this will be Baldwin's first time in the postseason. One hopes that he makes it a very memorable appearance, because Atlanta needs him to come up big.
DRAKE BALDWIN WALKS IT OFF!
— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2026
WHAT. A. GAME! pic.twitter.com/hPqZFwBGVR
Didier Fuentes
Didier Fuentes is an even more clear-cut example than Baldwin. Fuentes did make his big league debut last season, but the Braves did not make the playoffs, and he wouldn't have made the postseason roster even if they did. Now, Fuentes goes into the postseason as a crucial piece of the Braves' bullpen, with a very bright future ahead of him.
Dylan Dodd
We arrive at the first case of a player who was on a playoff-bound team before, but who hasn't appeared in a postseason. Dylan Dodd debuted with the Braves in 2023, but he bounced back and forth from Gwinnett for most of the last three seasons. Dodd was never named to either of the two playoff rosters where he possibly could have been, but that is extremely likely to change this year given his value in the bullpen.
Tyler Mahle
Tyler Mahle is a fun one, because he actually has been on a postseason roster with the Reds back in 2020. However, Cincinnati got bounced in the Wild Card round by the Braves in convincing fashion, and Mahle never made an appearance in that series. Now, Mahle will finally get his chance as Atlanta's second-best starter and a key part of their strategy for a deep playoff run.
JR Ritchie
In contrast, JR Ritchie's inclusion on this list is pretty straightforward. Despite a fairly loud contingent of Braves fans that wanted him called up last season, Ritchie didn't make his MLB debut until this year. Ritchie making the postseason roster isn't a sure thing, but he was good in his last start, and that may be enough to make their playoff roster as a length option just in case one of the Braves' other starters falters.
Brewer Hicklen
Until recently, Brewer Hicklen's chances of making the Braves' playoff roster were very low given that the Braves traded for Lane Thomas at the deadline. However, Thomas hurt his intercostal muscle earlier this month, and it is unlikely that he will be available for the Wild Card round at minimum. That opens the door for Hicklen as a righty hitting outfielder with some speed, who has also never played in the postseason despite making his MLB debut in 2022.
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