With less than a week before the 2026 MLB season begins, the Atlanta Braves still have plenty of decisions to make with regards to their Opening Day roster. On Friday, they made sweeping cuts to their spring training roster, trimming the big league camp down to 36 players.
The players who weren't a part of the cuts were just as important as the players who were, as it signaled which direction the Braves were leaning for key Opening Day roster decisions
The #Braves today optioned LHP Dylan Dodd to Triple-A Gwinnett, and reassigned RHP JR Ritchie, C Sandy León, INF Luke Williams, OF José Azócar and OF Ben Gamel to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 36 active players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 20, 2026
Braves spring training cuts points to decision on Opening Day roster
The Braves optioned Dylan Dodd to Gwinnett, while reassigning non-roster invitees JR Ritchie, Sandy León, Luke Williams, José Azócar, and Ben Gamel to minor league camp. While León, Williams, and Azócar were not expected to make the team, Dodd, Ritchie, and Gamel have all been seen as legitimate candidates to break camp with the team, at least at some point during the spring.
Dodd pitched decently in 2025 and during this spring, but with the Braves normally prioritizing depth, having an option remaining likely doomed him.
Gamel didn't play a major league in 2025, but saw his odds to make the roster increase significantly after Jurickson Profar's suspension. His four homers gave him a boost during the early part of spring, but he only managed to get two hits in 16 at bats over the last 10 days likely ended his chances. As things stand now, it looks more likely that Dominic Smith will open the season as the DH against righties.
Ritchie had perhaps the strongest argument to break camp with big league squad out of the Friday roster cuts. The Braves second-best prospect threw 12 innings with a 2.25 ERA and a 10.50 K/9.
Even with injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, Ritchie still didn't manage to crack the rotation. Although some of that may have to do with Martín Pérez in camp, as well as Jose Suarez on the 40-man roster, it might also have to do with the unbelievable performance by Didier Fuentes.
Even though Fuentes is only 20-years-old, the righty threw the equivalent of a no-hitter across three outings, striking out 17. Despite the fact that he still has options, Fuentes's performance has made it impossible to ignore. That said, Fuentes making the Opening Day roster would likely mean the Braves would lose Pérez, the rookie's performance this spring would be the gamble.
With Ritchie officially not making the Opening Day roster, it looks like Fuentes' chances just got a lot higher.