The Atlanta Braves have been trying to get through the tragedy that has been the 2025 season. There's been very little to cheer about with underperformance from the offense, countless injuries, and a leaky bullpen. Add that with an extremely disappointing trade deadline, and fans aren't having a very good time.
However, there are some exciting things coming in the future for the Braves. They had an excellent draft this year with a ton of position player talent to add to the decent pitching pool the team already possesses.
One of those top draft picks made his debut on Friday, and it has fans excited. Let's check out this performance and some other Braves news from the last couple of days.
Braves News: Second-round draft pick Alex Lodise impressed in his minor league debut
Alex Lodise had an impressive final year with Florida State. He played so well that he earned ACC Player of the Year. He posted an excellent line, slashing .394/.462/.705 with 17 homers, 18 doubles, and 68 RBI over 58 games in 2025. Lodise also flashed the leather and was awarded ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The Braves were likely happily surprised he was still around for them to draft in the second round.
He was also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which is given to the top player in the country. Lodise appeared in his first professional game with the Rome Emperors on Friday. It was an impressive showcase of the tools he has.
After winning ACC Player of the Year this spring, Alex Lodise (@FSUBaseball) delivers a three-hit outing in his pro debut for High-A @GoEmperors!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 2, 2025
Read about the @Braves' 2nd-rounder and his bond with his cousin Kyle, a 3rd-round pick of the White Sox: https://t.co/5VwUEenN9V pic.twitter.com/EwZgT1h6SE
Lodise finished the game a home run shy of the cycle as he was 3-for-4 with a single, double, and triple. He also drove in three runs during the game. If he's able to maintain this success, there's a chance he could be an answer for the Braves at shortstop at some point. It will be exciting to see how he develops.
Braves News: Top pitching prospect Owen Murphy returns from the IL with an eight strikeout performance
Atlanta's first-round draft pick from the 2022 draft has finally returned from the injured list. Owen Murphy was pitching extremely well last season before being derailed by Tommy John surgery. However, he has picked up right where he left off.
Owen Murphy is nothing short of dominant in his first start back with High-A @GoEmperors after Tommy John surgery 😤
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 2, 2025
The @Braves' No. 6 prospect records 8 of his 10 outs in a scoreless outing via strikeout. pic.twitter.com/POEDmxLqNT
Murphy had a dominant outing over 3.1 innings pitched with the Rome Emperors on Saturday. He held his opponents scoreless, and allowed just two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. The right-hander is listed as the sixth-best prospect in Atlanta's system at the moment. It's extremely encouraging to see he still has the ability to pitch well despite his setback.
Braves News: Nick Markakis surprises everyone in Baltimore with Savannah Bananas appearance
Yes, you read that right. The famously stoic Nick Markakis appeared in a game with the Savannah Bananas. The Bananas were in Baltimore and had the former All-Star surprise fans. Before he completed his career with the Braves, Markakis spent nine years with the Orioles.
Nick Markakis appears for the Savannah Bananas in Camden Yards pic.twitter.com/WEvWcEOwpF
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 3, 2025
Markakis had a decent time in his six years with the Braves. He batted .283 with 48 home runs, 198 doubles, 388 RBI, and a 103 wRC+.
He reached base after a grounder on the infield that was conveniently dropped during an attempted backflip catch. The Banana Ball craze is a polarizing topic among baseball fans. Not everyone loves it, but there are moments like this that are a lot of fun for the fans and former MLB players alike.