Coming off of a doubleheader yesterday, today did seem like a logical time for the Atlanta Braves to start making more spring training roster cuts. We have less than three weeks to Opening Day and the strains on playing time from the split squad doubleheaders are going to lessen as time goes on. A lot of these guys were never going to make the team to begin with and the everyday guys are going to start playing more and more.
The question then becomes which guys are going to hang around for a bit longer so that the team can give them a longer look and who are going to head to minor league camp to start getting ready for their seasons there. This morning, the Braves did indeed make another round of cuts and some things became more clear.
The #Braves today optioned RHPs Seth Elledge, Roddery Muñoz and Darius Vines to Triple-A Gwinnett, and reassigned RHP Alan Rangel, INF Cal Conley and INF Luke Waddell to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 53 total players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 10, 2023
While the more interesting things about this set of moves are about who are staying in camp, we will start with who is heading out. Darius Vines, Roddery Munoz, and Seth Elledge are all on the 40 man roster so they could factor into the Braves' plans later this season, but they have not really factored into things this spring. Alan Rangel pitched a good bit this spring, but did not pitch well and Cal Conley and Luke Waddell played a bit, but were never going to hang around in camp for long this year.
What this does mean, though, is that some pretty high profile names are hanging around in camp. Braden Shewmake has come out swinging this spring and while he isn't going to win the shortstop job as Vaughn Grissom has played well, the Braves clearly want to give him some more looks to see where he is. I am also irrationally excited that Cody Milligan is hanging around as well as he is an incredibly versatile player who can hit a bit (I do wish he would make more hard contact, though).
The pitching side is the real story, though, as both Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd remain in big league camp. Shuster has pitched well this spring and is likely still at least under some level of consideration for the fifth rotation spot. Dylan Dodd has opened a lot of eyes in camp as well and other than a tough outing against an insane Dominican Republic team, he has been among the most impressive pitchers in camp period so far.