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.
Chris Sale looked sharp again. Forrest Wall and Orlando Arcia lead Braves to a 3-2 win over the Phillies. pic.twitter.com/UyWsuYdhjY
— Atlanta Braves Radio Network 🎙️ (@BravesRadioNet) March 3, 2024
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.