Although we're still in early June, the 2026 MLB season is far enough along that we're starting to get an idea of who will be buying and who will be selling at the trade deadline. Obviously, with the Atlanta Braves sitting at 45-21, the best record in MLB, it's easy to guess that they will be among the buyers this July.
However, it's becoming crystal clear that Didier Fuentes, who was seen as a potential trade chip, is quickly becoming untouchable in the Braves' eyes. While the Braves have been using him increasingly higher leverage situations, Sunday confirmed just how bullish the organization is on him.
Didier Fuentes ninth-inning save proves Braves belief in his abilities
On Sunday, in a one-run game in the ninth inning, Walt Weiss decided against turning to his high-leverage arms in Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias, who have all been among the best relievers in baseball this season. Although Iglesias and Lee had been used on back-to-back days, Suarez had only pitched on Friday. Still, Weiss wanted to give the Braves big free agent signing an extra days rest.
After using Reynaldo Lopez and Tyler Kinley in the seventh and eighth innings, Weiss turned to Fuentes to get the save in a 3-2 game in the ninth. Of course, with Lopez and Kinley used, only Dylan Dodd and Carlos Carrasco remained available outside of Fuentes.
Fuentes is certainly higher on the depth charts than both Dodd and Carrasco. Entering Sunday's game, the young righty had managed a 1.23 ERA out of the bullpen in 22 innings, which actually ranks eighth among pitchers in relief appearances, just 0.06 runs back of his teammate, Dylan Lee. It's this success out of the bullpen that made Weiss comfortable letting Suarez get another day off, even though he would've only been pitching in his second consecutive game.
Although the inning started off shakily, with the soon-to-be 21-year-old giving up a lead-off double, Fuentes worked around that and an infield single to seal the sweep. According to Mark Bowman, Fuentes is the youngest Braves player to earn a save Mike McQueen earned on in August of 1971.
It's clear the Braves are no longer viewing Fuentes as a prospect, but rather a legitimate weapon down the stretch, which Chris Sale confirmed recently on 680 the Fan. As the season has progressed, Fuentes has elevated himself from a the long reliever with options, to the guy Weiss is turning to in big spots.
While he's a trusted bullpen arm for now, Fuentes's youth and sky-high ceiling is putting him firmly in the untouchable category for Atlanta as they start planning for the deadline.
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