8 Atlanta Braves named to ESPN’s List of Baseball’s Top 100 Players

The Atlanta Braves are high on everyone’s list of baseball’s best teams in 2023. If you want to know why, check our ESPN annual list of baseball’s top 100 players published last Thursday.

ESPN creates a top-100 list every March. Alden Gonzalez, Dave Schoenfield, Joon Lee, Jesse Rogers, and Brad Doolittle put the list together for ESPN this year. I disagreed with a few of the rankings, but overall, it looks fair and unbiased, and that’s all anyone can ask.

The Atlanta Braves are the only National League team with eight players on the list, joined by the Astros and Blue Jays in the junior circuit. The AL has 53 players on ESPN’s list and the NL 47.

The Braves projected everyday lineup includes six players on the list, literally leading off among that group is Ronald Acuña Jr. I’m showing the list in expected batting order sequence rather than rankings, which may sound odd, but the logic should become clear as you read on.

Ronald Acuña Jr – 14

Acuña’s magnificent performance in 2019 set a high bar, but the Atlanta Braves right fielder was on his way to surpassing it when he tore his ACL in 2021. After a restrained 2022 campaign, what can we expect this year?

. . . we're betting on him finding that power stroke again and returning as one of the sport's elite all-around talents . . . I'd love to be bold here and say 40-40 . . . but let's go with a 30-30 season and his third All-Star Game start.

With Ozzie back to remind him the game’s fun, but more fun when you’re willing. I believe he’ll be closer to 40-40 than 30-30 and could pass those marks as well.

Matt Olson – 53

When Matt Olson replaced Freeman in 2022, fans wondered exactly what lay ahead. As it turned out, the answer was a league-leading 44 doubles, 34 homers,10 RBI, and an .802 OPS..

Every generation needs that big, slugging lefty first baseman who swats impressive home runs and swings from his heels with absolutely no remorse . . . I'd bet on a batting average closer to 240 . . . (and) once again crack 100 RBIs with his 30-homer power

Matty “Two-Bags” Olson looks far more comfortable this spring. A full season with the Braves and a normal spring training made him feel more at home and relaxed. I think he hits 35 homers and 35 doubles, and the vanishing shift pushes his average closer to .260.

Austin Riley – 18

Last season Austin Riley showed everyone he was, indeed, that guy. His 38 homers led the team and were third in the NL, and his 39 doubles put him in a tie with Trea Turner and the eventual winner of the NL batting title, Jeff McNeil.

. . . there's no doubt (now) that Riley (is) one of the game's shining stars and is perhaps even a little underrated . . . a pure basher who ranks in the top five percentile in. . . exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit percentage . . . expect Riley to . . . tack on 20-25 walks. . .a few more of his doubles to clear the fence, allowing him to reach the 40-homer mark. . .

I’m glad someone outside Atlanta recognizes Riley’s growing confidence and maturity. I hope having Chipper back in camp encourages Riley to pay more attention to situational hitting. He’s a smart player who could easily drive in over 100 this year.

Sean Murphy – 66

The trade shocked Atlanta Braves fans who had fallen in love with William Contreras. Now, most understand that the Braves significantly improved on both sides of the ball by acquiring Murphy.

‘'. . . Murphy is one of the game's top two-way backstops who hits for power, draws walks (and) was the AL's Gold Glove catcher in 2021. . .(he’s a potential NL Gold Glove catcher who) frames well . . . with an elite pop time (and the) ability to gun down would-be base thieves

Sean Murphy's defense is indeed sterling, but he’s every bit as dangerous at the plate as he is skilled behind it. He hit 37 doubles and 18 homers in the canyon Oakland calls home and some of baseball’s biggest ballparks out west. At Truist Park, he’ll hit more of both, but keeping it reasonable, I expect 25 homers and 35 doubles.

Atlanta Braves Pitching

The final two players on the ESPN list are starting pitchers, and it’s no surprise who those pitchers are.

Max Fried - 32

Anyone reading my posts since Max Fried's promotion know I love what he does on the mound. I expect more of the same from Fried this year, he’s a smart pitcher, always seeking to maximize the effectiveness of his pitches.

Only an epic season by (Sandy) Alcantara (prevented) Fried landing his first NL Cy Young . . . Fried's consistency and dominance . . .allowed him to go 52-20 since 2019, a .722 winning percentage. His 32 games over .500 during that span is matched only by the Yankees' Cole. If he's able to (pitch as he did in 2022) in 2023 (when) he finished second in the Cy Young voting in 2022, where would that leave him? Exactly.

Doolittle suggests that Fried’s strikeout rate kept him from finishing higher on the list. If so, it’s a shortsighted view of a pitcher’s effectiveness.

Spencer Strider – 50

Speaking of rookies who made their mark on the game, All Spencer Strider did go from someone they hoped would help in the bullpen to one of the game’s most dominant pitchers, set a couple of franchise records, and finish second to his teammate for NL Rookie of the Year.

Strider's stuff is so overpowering that for now, it's all he needs . . . To become a bedrock starter who can . . . work deep (into games), he'll need more than two pitches. His spring work didn't suggest he has that, so for now, expect more sharp, dominant outings.

I believe Doolittle underestimates Strider's ability to adapt and improve. Strider has ice water in his veins and legs like trees. My wish is that he and Nolan Ryan spend a lot of quality time – like a month or two - talking about pitching. For now, I expect Strider to be Strider and a lot of batters to walk back to the dugout shaking their head.

That’s a Wrap

On Opening Day, 70% of the Atlanta Braves everyday lineup ranks in the top 75 on ESPN’s top-100 list. The average age of that group is 26.3, and all except Fried are under team control through 2027.

Acuña and Olson are destroying baseballs and Eddie Rosario in striking out less and hitting the ball hard, crushing two homers for Puerto Rico in the WBC, and we know what the pitching can do. The season starts in six days; this should be fun!