In a surprising late off-season move, the Atlanta Braves will enter the 2024 regular season with Adam Duvall on their roster. Again. This will be Duvall's third stint with the Braves organization, and will likely be playing a much different role than he has in the past.
Alex Anthopoulos acquired Jarred Kelenic from the Seatlle Mariners in hopes to fill the vacancy Eddie Rosarion and Kevin Pillar left in the outfield. The initial hope was that Kelenic could be Brian Snitker's every day starter. However, since Kelenic has struggled so heavily this spring, Adam Duvall was summoned to provide some insurance.
Spring Training is not the time to go into panic mode and Kelenic will still get his fair shot. The Braves organization has already announced that Duvall and Kelenic will platoon in left field in 2024 much like Rosario and Pillar did a season ago. In the unfortuante event that Kelenic is unable to hold up his end of the bargain, the Braves will feel more than comfortable playing Adam Duvall every day.
In 2023 with the Boson Red Sox, Duvall hit .247 with 21 home runs and 58 runs batted in across 92 games. Had it not been for an early season injury, he would have had far more games played and likely higher power numbers.
According to Fangraphs ZiPS DC, Adam Duvall is expected to appear in 65 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2024. Duvall has always been a low average, high power hitter guy and these projections are calling for more of that in 2024. Fangraphs ZiPS DC is predicting a .227 average with 15 home runs and 44 runs batted in for Duvall.
Adam Duvall may be one of the most difficult players in baseball to make predicitions for entering the 2024 regular season. Transitioning back to Atlanta so late in the off-season could present a challenge as he is still yet to make his Spring Training debut, despite being just a week away from Opening Day. Regardless of what his role will be with the Braves, expect Adam Duvall to help Atlanta win baseball games just as he always has.