3 Atlanta Braves pitchers who will begin 2024 season at Triple-A, 2 who will not
The Braves have built an amazing depth of starting pitching, but which of the fringe guys make the big league roster?
Across the 2023-24 offseason so far, the Atlanta Braves starting rotation has already seen a notable amount of change.
While the likes of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder are all back, Kyle Wright is now a member of the Kansas City Royals organization, and the Braves have also added a seven-time All-Star to the mix in left-hander Chris Sale. Not to mention that the Braves also have numerous other rotation options that might be forced to begin the 2024 season with Triple-A Gwinnett because of no space at the major league level.
So, with that thought in mind, let's take a look at three Atlanta Braves starting pitchers who will likely begin the 2024 season in Triple-A, as well as two who will not.
3 Atlanta Braves pitchers who will begin season at Triple-A, 2 who will not
Will - RHP AJ Smith-Shawver
We begin with one of the most exciting young arms in Atlanta's system with right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, who will likely begin the 2024 season with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Currently the Braves top prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Smith-Shawver rose quickly through Atlanta's organization a year ago, making the jump all the way to the big leagues from High-A. The former seventh round pick would certainly make an impact while in Atlanta as well, posting a 1-0 record with a 4.26 ERA and 20:11 K:BB ratio across 25.1 IP (five-of-six appearances were starts).
While likely to be an impact piece for Atlanta in 2024 at some point, it seems likely that the right-hander is the first name on the outside-looking-in at the Braves rotation to begin the year, due to the fact that their simply might not be a spot for him in the rotation. No. that isn't necessarily a bad thing either, as Smith-Shawver has only 41 IP for his career at the Triple-A level.
Yes, there is always a chance that Smith-Shawver could also end up in Atlanta's bullpen to begin the year as well. However, due to the fact that his future outlook with the Braves is as a starter, then it makes sense for Smith-Shawver to be the ace in Gwinnett's rotation to start 2024.
Will Not - LHP Chris Sale
While likely an obvious choice, Sale will not begin the 2024 season in Triple-A, but rather in the major leagues.
Acquired via trade by the Braves this offseason, Sale comes to Atlanta off a stellar six seasons with the Boston Red Sox (2017-23, did not see action in 2020) in which he held a combined 3.27 ERA in 115 starts. A seven-time All-Star, Sale also finished top five in AL Cy Young voting during the 2017 and 2018 seasons in Boston, as well as from 2013-16 as a member of the Chicago White Sox.
Despite making only a combined 11 starts during the 2021-22 seasons combined, the 34-year-old is coming off s 2023 season in which he made 20 starts for the Red Sox. Across those 102.2 IP, the left-hander held a 6-5 record with a 4.30 ERA and 125:29 K:BB ratio, while also owning an 11 K/9.
Simply put, the Braves brought Sale to Atlanta to be a major impact player in the starting rotation, and assuming he is healthy coming out of spring training, the veteran will likely do just that from day one.
Will - RHP Darius Vines
The next pitcher who will likely begin their 2024 season in Triple-A is Vines, who similar to Smith-Shawver, also made his respective MLB debut a year ago.
Atlanta's No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Vines made five appearances in the majors with the Braves last season, two of which were starts. In what was the former seventh rounders first MLB action, Vines would own a 1-0 record with a 3.98 ERA and 14:7 K:BB ratio across 20.1 IP.
When looking at Vines' minor league career so far, the right-hander has 13 career appearances at the Triple-A level, 10 of which were starts. Of that sample size, Vines made six appearances, five of which were starts, a year ago at Gwinnett, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.36 ERA and 28:13 K:BB ratio across 34.1 IP.
Similar to Smith-Shawver, you could certainly make an argument that Vines is major league ready, but there is likely not room in the MLB rotation to begin the year. Yes, Vines will certainly see time with the major league club at some point in 2024, but likely not to begin the year.
Will Not - RHP Bryce Elder
The second prediction to not begin the 2024 season in Triple-A is Elder, who similar to Sale, will likely start the year in the major leagues.
Elder is coming off a breakout 2024 season in what was his second year in the major leagues, posting a 12-4 record with a 3.81 ERA and 128:63 K:BB ratio. The former fifth round pick would also make 31 starts across 174.2 IP, as well as make his first-career All-Star appearance.
Assuming that the top four spots in Atlanta's rotation to begin the year go to Fried, Strider, Morton, and Sale, then Elder is likely the favorite for that fifth spot, and rightfully so, coming off the 2023 season that the right-hander had.
With a strong spring training as well, the right-hander should get that spot over some of the other names on this list such as Smith-Shawver and Vines.
Will - RHP Hurston Waldrep
The final name on this list, Waldrep will likely begin the 2024 season at Triple-A coming off his quick rise through the minor leagues a year ago.
Atlanta's No. 2 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Waldrep is still a newer name to the Braves organization, as he was selected with the No. 24 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida. The right-hander, as mentioned previosuly, would then go on a quick rise throughout the minor leagues, moving all the way from Low-A to Triple-A across only eight appearances.
Each of which were starts, Waldrep would own a combined 1.53 ERA with a 41:16 K:BB ratio across 29.1 IP during that span. However, only one of those appearances would come at the Triple-A level, which was a scoreless 4.1 IP in which he struck out five and walked three.
A candidate to reach the major leagues this season, there is an outside chance that Waldrep starts the year in Double-A, but the right-hander will more than likely begin the season in Gwinnett. Should that happen as well, don't be surprised if Waldrep shortly after makes his way to Atlanta.