Well, things are escalating quickly down at Atlanta Braves spring training. Earlier today, we were thrown for a bit of a loop when the Braves optioned Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder back to the minor leagues. Purely on merit, it is absolutely true that both Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd have pitched the best out of those that have been competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, but it is still pretty wild that the Braves went ahead and pulled the trigger on sending Ian and Bryce down already.
The Braves were not done, though, as they announced this evening that they have also sent a bunch of minor leaguers back over to minor league spring training and trimmed the big league roster camp down to 42 players.
Additionally, Atlanta today reassigned LHP Brian Moran, C Drake Baldwin, INF Joe Dunand, INF Adeiny Hechavarría, OF Justin Dean, OF Cody Milligan, OF Magneuris Sierra and OF Forrest Wall to minor league camp. The Braves now have 42 total players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 14, 2023
The latest wave of Atlanta Braves spring training roster cuts are bringing some focus
With this latest round of roster cuts, we don't have a TON of surprises per se, but we do have some clarity on some of the competitions in camp. First, we have the guys that were never going to make the team out of spring training. That group includes Moran, Baldwin, and Dunand.
The rest of the guys were fringe candidates that would have needed a really strong spring combined with the favorites ahead of them faltering. Justin Dean, Cody Milligan, Magneuris Sierra, and Forrest Wall all have really interesting tools (there is a LOT of speed in that group) and versatility, but would have required a lot of help to be in the outfield mix.
That leaves Adeiny Hechavarria who was pretty clearly the infielder in camp on the outside looking in. Vaughn Grissom and Orlando Arcia are pretty clearly the guys the Braves are going to carry, but if we are looking at performance, Braden Shewmake is up there as well. That leaves Hech without much of a path even though he is responsible for one of my favorite quotes about leaving a team ever.
The next round of cuts are going to be VERY telling. If one of Dodd or Shuster aren't sent back over to minro league camp after they both have their next starts, it could mean the Braves carry both as Kyle Wright works his way back. If Braden Shewmake lasts a while, then chaos could ensue at shortstop. Plus we still have the bullpen and bench to get sorted out, in particular in the outfield where minor league options are likely to be an important consideration.