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3 biggest stories for Atlanta Braves through two weeks of spring training

The Atlanta Braves have shown some impressive talent through the first couple of weeks of spring training.

By Steven Teal |
Tampa Bay Rays v Atlanta Braves
Tampa Bay Rays v Atlanta Braves / Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/GettyImages
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The Atlanta Braves are hard at work preparing for the 2024 season and so far it has been what fans expected. It seems as if the team never stopped playing and picked up right where they left off.

Like every Spring, there are expectations for certain players to perform but there are also surprises to be found. Prospects take the next step and players that aren't expected to play a big role give the team a reason to bring them to Atlanta,

We are just now at the two-week mark of Spring Training and there have been a few storylines worth paying attention to.

Outfield battle intensifies

All three primary outfield spots have already been filled by reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr, Michael Harris II, and newcomer Jarred Kelenic. Acuna Jr. did have an injury scare recently but after seeing the doctor who surgically fixed his knee in 2021, he will be ready to go by Opening Day.

Harris II looks great so far and we will touch on him a bit later. Kelenic is struggling a bit so far offensively but there's good reason for that as it seems Atlanta is working on changing his swing. His defense has been pretty solid so far, however.

As far as who will be the fourth outfielder to allow the Braves flexibility with their outfield, that is a more difficult question to answer. Coming into spring camp, there were some ideas of who Atlanta might keep on their bench for the outfield but no clear winner.

Every option available for that role has been performing at an incredibly high level so far. It's made the decision a bit more difficult. Forrest Wall has been performing very well, slugging the ball all over the field and flashing some leather. Wall has seven hits so far with a .438 average including three home runs, nine runs batted in, and one stolen base.

Wall's ability to hit the ball well combined with good defense and great baserunning skills makes him a perfect candidate for a fourth outfielder role. However, there are a couple of other options making things interesting and those options are Jordan Luplow and Eli White.

Luplow has a .235 average with four hits including two home runs and six runs batted in. It's not as flashy as Wall's stats but still decent for a spring performance. White has been equally as impressive as Wall with a .429 average including six hits, two runs batted in, and two stolen bases over 14 at-bats.

White and Wall are perfect options to fill the roving outfield role and the decision will likely come down to who has the hot hand as we end spring training. This battle has been unexpected but a lot of fun to keep up with.

Impressive Pitching Performances

It should be no surprise that the Atlanta's Braves pitching is impressive so far this spring. Pitching is a very important thing for any team to consider and its something Atlanta has always prioritized.

They did a great job in the offseason adding to an already impressive bullpen and strengthening their starting rotation. Chris Sale is the newest addition to the rotation and has looked spectacular so far. Over 4.2 innings, he's allowed zero runs on three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. His velocity has been nice and the fastball has been between 95 and 97 mph. The slider is also really crisp-looking.

Spencer Strider is having a very impressive spring as well. He has introduced a "curveball" this spring and it's been causing some trouble for hitters. Stider is also trying to use his high-velocity fastball up in the zone more often to allow his curve and changeup to become more effective.

Strider has completed nine innings of work allowing seven hits including three walks and 13 strikeouts. Most of those strikeouts again have come via the curveball or changeup. However, his fastball has still gotten plenty of whiffs.

Max Fried has looked pretty good but he's only pitched two innings so far. He hasn't allowed any runs or hits but has walked one batter and struck out two of them. His focus is on just staying healthy and getting back on track after a tough 2023 campaign.

Charlie Morton appeared in his first game a couple of days ago and despite his age, he is still pitching extremely well. His curveball has helped keep his career alive longer that he and many others expected.

Reynaldo Lopez was brought on as a free agent this offseason and is being stretched out with the potential to start for the Braves. He could be the fifth starter but will battle with Bryce Elder for that spot. Lopez has come into a game in relief once which shows the Braves are considering him as a long relief option as well.

Regardless of his role, Lopez has looked good for the Braves. He has a 1.13 ERA over eight innings with one run allowed on three hits. He has walked two batters and struck out seven of them. Opponents carry a .120 batting average against him during spring training.

Bryce Elder has struggled a bit this spring but he is starting to get things figured out. He currently has a 7.04 ERA with six runs on 10 hits allowed. He's walked three batters and struck out 10. Elder struggled early in his most recent start against the Red Sox but he got things under control quickly and completed 3.1 innings allowing just one run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

The bullpen has been impressive for the most part as well. There aren't any crazy performances to speak on but the pen has been performing up to the standard fans have come to expect. Overall, pitching is going to be a massive strength for the Braves in 2024.

Michael Harris II continues to rake

Michael Harris II kicked off spring training with a bang after hitting the first pitch he saw out of the ballpark. He hasn't slowed down at all and continues to show he is primed for the best season of his career.

Harris eventually had an incredible season for the Braves in 2023 after he fully healed from injuries that held him down early in the year. He was one of Atlanta's best once he figured things out. It seems he has come into 2024 on a mission.

Money Mike has tons of potential to make an MVP push. He has the power and speed combination that is similar to Acuna while playing elite defense in center field. He is the perfect sleeper candidate for winning the NL MVP this year.

Over 18 at-bats, he has a .444 average with eight hits including a double, three home runs, and five runs batted in. He has earned one walk and struck out three times. Harris has also stolen one base so far.

Harris celebrated his birthday on Thursday by hitting an absolute bomb to right field against Boston that even got Alex Cora's attention. The bat speed he possesses is incredible.

It's been absolutely impressive to see the rise of Michael Harris II to stardom. He has surprised many with the pop his bat provides and the elite defense he features. While it's easy to assume he won't continue this level of performance into the regular season, he could also prove that wrong easily.

A lot of people didn't think Matt Olson would carry his impressive spring into the regular season and all he did in 2023 was lead Major League Baseball in home runs and broke two franchise records (single-season franchise home run and RBI records).

A few weeks remain for spring training and there are going to be plenty more storylines to follow over that time frame. We will keep an eye on everything happening and provide updates as they occur. One thing is for sure, the Braves are going to have a great season and this is just a preview of what is to come.

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